In a decisive rebuttal to ongoing debates, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar declared on Thursday that the state’s popular guarantee schemes are here to stay, regardless of voluntary withdrawals by wealthy citizens. During a media interaction at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, he quashed fears of any program shutdowns.
‘It’s not wrong if affluent people decide to leave the guarantee schemes on their own,’ Shivakumar remarked, citing inputs from salaried government workers and IT sector employees who feel they don’t need these aids.
Addressing rumors fueled by recent ministerial remarks, he stressed there is no proposal whatsoever to halt these initiatives. However, he acknowledged irregularities, including payments credited to deceased persons’ accounts and misuse of ration supplies.
‘Unlike other schemes, Gruha Jyothi doesn’t face this issue,’ he observed, while calling for urgent measures to detect and prevent such frauds. ‘The government struggles with identifying the deceased beneficiaries, and we’re actively discussing solutions.’
Shivakumar clarified that some rich beneficiaries have proactively stated they don’t require perks like free electricity up to 200 units. ‘This is under review, but I repeat: no guarantee scheme will be terminated, come what may,’ he affirmed.
Pushing back against accusations that these schemes are derailing infrastructure growth, the leader highlighted upcoming budget announcements packed with development projects. His statements aim to restore public confidence amid fiscal pressures and political opposition critiques.
These guarantees—ranging from free electricity to financial aid for women—formed key Congress promises that propelled them to power, and Shivakumar’s reassurance signals continuity in welfare delivery.