Bengaluru, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : In Bengaluru, opposition leader R. Ashok of the BJP has accused the Karnataka government of implementing unnecessary verification processes for the Gruha Lakshmi Scheme. This monthly assistance program, aimed at supporting eligible women heads of households, is now subject to new requirements that involve linking beneficiaries’ Aadhaar numbers with their husbands’.
Ashok contended that these changes are a tactic by the Congress government to harass beneficiaries, as they had previously promised unconditional monthly payments of ₹2,000 to women during the election campaign. He claimed that under the revised procedures, beneficiaries must submit a new application with 17 questions and allow officials to conduct biometric or facial verification at their homes.
The new stipulations include linking the husband’s Aadhaar number, matching the beneficiary’s name and address with Aadhaar records, and maintaining a bank account without any loans. Ashok questioned why the Congress government seems to doubt the dignity of Karnataka’s mothers, emphasizing that such scrutiny is unnecessary for receiving the promised funds.
He further alleged that these additional requirements are a sign that the government is struggling to secure resources to continue payments under the scheme. Ashok suggested that the intent behind the new verification process is to reduce the number of beneficiaries and cut costs associated with the program.
The BJP leader urged the government to withdraw what he termed “unnecessary rules” and cease sending officials to conduct repeated checks at beneficiaries’ homes. He warned that if the new regulations are not rescinded, the BJP would organize statewide protests in support of women, exposing what he described as the “true face” of the Congress government.
The Gruha Lakshmi Scheme is one of five guarantees introduced by the Congress government in Karnataka, designed to provide financial assistance to eligible women heads of households. The government has initiated a statewide re-verification process to identify deceased, duplicate, and ineligible beneficiaries, ensuring that the monthly ₹2,000 support reaches those who qualify.
In late August 2026, the government issued directives for biometric and facial verification at beneficiaries’ homes. Data collectors are gathering information related to beneficiaries, their families, Aadhaar, voter ID, and bank accounts. The revised guidelines outline that the verification form consists of 17 questions, which will assess the linking of the head of the household or husband’s Aadhaar and the status of Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
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