The implementation of the five ‘guarantees’ promised by the Congress before the Karnataka elections cost the state exchequer nearly

every year. There may be a burden of crores of rupees. On spending on welfare measures, prominent party leaders have insisted that one cannot call them “freebies” as they are tools of empowerment. Political analysts say that Five ‘guarantees’ have contributed a lot in getting the Congress a resounding victory in the May assembly elections. ,What are the five guarantees of the Congress? Congress has promised to implement ‘five guarantees’ on the first day of coming to power in Karnataka. In these promises all the houses (Griha Jyoti) Unit free electricity, 2 to the female head (Griha Lakshmi) of every family, Monthly Assistance of Rs., Below Poverty Line (BPL) families (Anna Bhagya) To each member of Kilogram free rice, 3 every month for unemployed graduate youth, Rs. and unemployed Diploma holders (both -10 in the age group ) for two years 1,200 Rupees (Yuva Nidhi) and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti) are included.

Some BJP leaders have alleged that the implementation of these ‘guarantees’ will push the state into financial bankruptcy and have also claimed that the Congress will not be able to fully honor its pre-poll promises. for five guarantees 43, crore will be spent Vice-Chairman of the Congress Manifesto Drafting Committee Professor K.E. Radhakrishna said in an interview with PTI-Bhasha on Wednesday that on the implementation of five ‘guarantee’ schemes, the annual , The expenditure will not exceed Rs. Radhakrishna said that some Congress leaders have also expressed doubts about the implementation of these guarantees. He said, “Some of our leaders also have this perception but we are very confident because I have worked out the financial implications. This does not exceed Rs. Even Even crore rupees is not a donation. This is empowerment.”

Karnataka’s total budget is about three lakh crores Explaining in detail how these schemes will be implemented, the educationist said that the total budget of the Karnataka government is about three lakh crore rupees. Radhakrishna said that any good economy has at least 55 percent of revenue is spent on sustainable development. He said it is spent on paying salaries of government employees and implementing empowerment programmes.

Radhakrishna said, “Revenue transfers capital, capital transfers revenue. Therefore, out of the budget of three lakh crore rupees, 1.49 Will have to spend lakh crore rupees. If this does not happen then we will not have funds to spend another Rs 1.5 lakh crore. These two things are related to each other. He said that out of five guarantees, the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme is already implemented and has been extended under the new promise. The Congress leader said, “We were giving seven kilograms of rice. The BJP reduced it to five kilograms. Now once again we want to kg. We are going to give rice and coarse grains, which will encourage its cultivation and production. Regarding ‘Griha Jyoti’, Radhakrishna said that Karnataka is a state with excess power availability and is selling power to other states. He said that under ‘Griha Lakshmi’ scheme 2, The ‘guarantee’ of Rs. is not applicable to all women heads of families.

Radhakrishna clarified, “It is only for families below the poverty line. We will not give this amount to rich people. This scheme is only to empower the poor people.” He said about ‘Yuva Nidhi’ that unemployment allowance is given in many countries across the world.

Regarding ‘Shakti’ scheme related to free bus travel for women, he said that already students are getting free ‘passes’ to go to college from their homes. He said, “Not every woman travels in buses. Only those people travel in buses, who are not rich. This (free travel guarantee) will empower textile workers, domestic servants and women engaged in menial jobs.

CongressKarnataka ElectionPublished Date

Wed, May 17, 2023, 6: 44 PM IST