Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has begun a fresh verification of beneficiaries under its main welfare programmes, sparking criticism from the opposition BJP. Leaders of the party have accused the Congress administration of planning to reduce the number of recipients over time.
Opposition Leader R Ashoka and state BJP president BY Vijayendra said the exercise is not simply to remove ineligible names but to lower overall spending on schemes including Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi. The government stated that the process will remove fraudulent or deceased claimants and ensure aid reaches only eligible families.
Ashoka argued that the administration already possesses the data and technology to clean lists without requiring existing beneficiaries to submit documents again. He claimed the step will create long queues and inconvenience for women and low-income households. Vijayendra questioned why proper checks were not done before the schemes began and linked the move to rising financial pressure on the state.
The Congress government has denied any plan to end the programmes. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the verification aims only to stop misuse. The opposition maintains that the review signals a gradual reduction in welfare commitments made before the last assembly elections.
