Bengaluru, June 14: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Saturday that beneficiaries of the Home Lakshmi Scheme, which provides a monthly allowance of ₹2,000, must reapply as part of a verification process. He revealed that over ₹100 crore has been withdrawn in the names of deceased beneficiaries, according to government data.
Shivakumar addressed the media following a seven-hour review meeting with deputy commissioners, police superintendents, chief executive officers, forest conservators, and other senior officials at the Vidhana Soudha.
He clarified that the government aims to verify whether eligible beneficiaries are receiving their benefits and emphasized that there are no plans to discontinue the scheme. Shivakumar also announced that a recent government order mandates free bus passes for all students.
The Chief Minister instructed district ministers, deputy commissioners, and booth-level officers (BLOs) to raise awareness about the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) process and ensure that citizens do not lose their voting rights.
He urged all voters to submit the census forms provided by BLOs and advised migrant workers and others living away from their native places to submit necessary documents to maintain their names on the voter list.
Officials were also directed to issue residence certificates where necessary and conduct awareness campaigns at the village and booth levels.
In response to questions regarding opposition to the proposed Bidadi township project, Shivakumar stated that former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is free to pursue legal remedies.
The Chief Minister claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the township initiative during a recent meeting, stating it would help alleviate pressure on Bengaluru.
Shivakumar mentioned that during his meeting with the Prime Minister, Modi shared his experiences in developing several townships, highlighting their efforts to reduce the burden on Bengaluru.
Regarding his participation in the NITI Aayog meeting, Shivakumar noted that he presented Karnataka’s concerns to the Prime Minister and received positive feedback.
Leave a Comment