Amid rising chatter on fiscal prudence, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar laid down the law on Thursday: the state’s guarantee schemes are non-negotiable, though the well-off are free to bow out. From Vidhana Soudha, he tackled media queries head-on.
‘If rich folks choose to forgo these schemes voluntarily, that’s entirely acceptable,’ he articulated, drawing from conversations with IT employees and government staff who deem the benefits redundant.
Bluntly countering closure speculations, Shivakumar affirmed zero plans to axe any program. He spotlighted fraud concerns—money deposited for the deceased, ration rice siphoned illicitly—while praising the Gruha Jyothi scheme’s cleaner record.
‘Significant amounts have been misused this way. Identifying the dead is tricky, but we’re brainstorming fixes,’ he shared. On ministerial nudges to sideline the affluent, he noted self-reported disinterest from some in free electricity quotas.
‘Under review, yes—but no scheme ends. Don’t misconstrue my words,’ he pleaded with journalists. Dismissing narratives of development delays due to welfare costs, he previewed ambitious budget reveals for infrastructure.
Shivakumar’s comments seek to steady nerves around these poll promises, which have disbursed billions but drawn flak for straining state coffers, ensuring their role in Karnataka’s social safety net endures.