Bengaluru, Dec 24 (NationPress) The delays in the monthly disbursement of Rs 2,000 to over 1 crore underprivileged women, as part of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, have left many feeling disheartened and frustrated.

Numerous beneficiaries have come forward, sharing their struggles due to this financial setback and calling on the state government to resume the financial support as promised in the scheme.

The issue of pending payments was highlighted during the recent Assembly session when BJP MLA Mahesh Teninakai raised concerns regarding the outstanding installments owed to women beneficiaries.

Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar has committed to resolving the pending payments but indicated that procedural challenges are to blame for the delays.

Since its launch in August 2023, the Gruha Lakshmi scheme was designed to provide around 1.2 crore women from economically disadvantaged households in Karnataka with monthly income support of Rs 2,000.

Many recipients across the state have expressed their dissatisfaction over not receiving the promised Rs 2,000, criticizing the authorities for the hold-up and calling for a faster resolution.

In Bidar district, residents are visibly upset, claiming that funds have not been deposited in their accounts for the past three to four months.

A few protesting women mockingly stated, “The guarantee scheme itself has lost its guarantee,” and urged the Women and Child Development Minister, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, to take action.

“We have been waiting for the Rs 2,000 for the last four months. Initially, they said it would take another three months, but even after that period, the money hasn’t arrived. What should we do now? Festivals are approaching, and we have expenses. We are struggling and need the pending amount,” said Martham, a resident of Bidar.

Another resident, Sharadamma, passionately appealed to the Chief Minister, insisting that the funds should be credited regularly every month without fail.

In Mysore, some beneficiaries expressed their anger over payout delays extending up to five months, while others mentioned not receiving anything for the past three months.

“None of us demanded Gruha Lakshmi. This government is playing a game under the guise of guarantees. They have shattered our trust,” a local resident remarked.

Beneficiary Lakshmi stated, “We have not received any payments for two to three months. We never asked the Congress government for this. They are deceiving us under the pretext of guarantees.”

Another beneficiary, Annapurna, asserted, “The Congress government has misappropriated funds in the name of women for election purposes. They need money for elections, hence they are misleading us by collecting crores in the name of women.”

Leela Shanai, a resident of Mysore, expressed, “The Congress government secured votes in Karnataka by promising guarantees, and now they are betraying the people.”

Varalakshmi, a housewife from Chitradurga, voiced, “The government has failed to fulfill its commitment to provide Gruha Lakshmi funds monthly. I took out a loan based on the trust in Gruha Lakshmi, and now I am facing issues. There are elderly people who cannot even afford their medications.”

“The government must honor its promises and ensure the Gruha Lakshmi funds are deposited into our accounts,” she demanded.

Another housewife, Rekha, remarked that most women voted for the Congress party based on their promises of guarantees, but now it feels like they have been abandoned.

“The government is deceiving the underprivileged. There are suspicions that the funds allocated under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme are being mismanaged. The money for the house, Lakshmi, should be disbursed shortly,” she concluded angrily.