Ensure effective implementation of guarantee schemes that draw national, international attention: Mehroz Khan

Saying that the State government’s five guarantee schemes are being lauded nationally and internationally, S.R. Mehroz Khan, vice-chairperson of the Karnataka State Guarantees’ Implementation Authority, urged officials to ensure that the schemes are effectively implemented.

Saying that the State government’s five guarantee schemes are being lauded nationally and internationally, S.R. Mehroz Khan, vice-chairperson of the Karnataka State Guarantees’ Implementation Authority, urged officials to ensure that the schemes are effectively implemented.

Chairing a review meeting on the progress of the schemes in Bidar on Tuesday, he highlighted the importance of efficient execution to maintain the credibility and success of the schemes.

“Karnataka’s guarantee schemes, implemented at an annual cost of ₹52,000 crore, have empowered the economically weaker sections. Bidar district had achieved a remarkable 98% implementation rate. These schemes have helped the poor and middle-class families to establish small businesses and lead self-reliant lives,” he said.

Emphasising the importance of outreach, Mr. Khan instructed officials to launch special awareness campaigns in colleges and among young people to promote the Yuva Nidhi scheme. He also directed transport authorities to ensure that school and college buses operate on schedule and stop appropriately to avoid inconvenience to students.

In the light of recent reported cases on the smuggling of Anna Bhagya scheme rice, Mr. Khan warned fair price shops, entrusted with the responsibility of distributing the rice to beneficiaries, of stringent legal action, apart from cancelling their licences and blacklisting them.

Providing implementation statistics, Mr. Khan said that, as of May, 3,74,323 women from a total of 3,81,970 ration card-holding families in Bidar have registered under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. A cumulative amount of ₹1,197.64 crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries.

Under the Anna Bhagya scheme, a total of 13,13,305 beneficiaries have benefited from an expenditure of ₹333.28 crore. From July 2023 to January 2025, the cash equivalent of 5 kg of rice was transferred. From February 2025 onwards, beneficiaries have been receiving 10 kg of rice.