Five Guarantees of Congress Govt in Karnataka: Congress is going to form the government in Karnataka with full majority by showing BJP the way out. During the elections, the Congress had promised to implement five ‘guarantees’. Siddaramaiah is taking oath as Chief Minister on Saturday (May 20). After taking charge, all eyes are now on whether the Congress will fulfill the five guarantees.
During the assembly election campaign, Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi repeatedly assured voters that these five guarantees would be approved in the first cabinet meeting on the first day of coming to power. Political analysts believe that the ‘guarantees’ impressed the voters and played an important role in the party’s resounding victory. The Congress, which won 135 constituencies in the 224-member assembly, ousted the BJP, which won 66 seats. Whereas, JDS got only 19 seats.
BJP leaders’ allegations
According to news agency PTI, 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. Prominent Congress leaders had earlier this week said that invoking the five ‘guarantees’ could cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore annually. On the other hand, the leaders of BJP and JDS have also said that they are keenly watching whether the Congress will fully honor its promises.
What are the five guarantees of Congress?
Congress on the first day of coming to power in Karnataka ‘five guarantees’ Promised to implement. These promises include 200 units of free electricity to all households (Griha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the female head of every household (Griha Lakshmi), 10 kg free food to each member of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family (Anna Bhagya) rice, Rs 3,000 per month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for two years to unemployed diploma holders (both in the 18-25 age group) (Yuva Nidhi) and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti) .
All will implement the guarantee scheme in the first meeting
Before flying to Delhi on Friday (May 19), Congress state president DK Shivakumar said that in the first meeting of the cabinet, we will Going to implement guarantee schemes. We will keep our promises. You must witness this great historical moment. Will there be any conditions attached? In response to this, DK said that he will not speak now, but after the implementation of the decision, people will be informed about it. He said that this is not the guarantee of DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah. This is the guarantee of the Congress party. We’ll do what we’ve said.
Former Union Minister M Veerappa Moily told news agency PTI that we are a responsible party. Responsible Congress leaders have evolved the guarantees knowing full well their implications. We will be in a position to implement them.
Congress plans are limited
According to Professor KE Radhakrishna, Vice Chairman of the Congress Manifesto Drafting Committee, the annual budget of the state which is about three lakh crore rupees, 50,000 crore annually on these schemes. Will not cost more than Rs. He said the ‘Griha Lakshmi’ scheme, which provides Rs 2,000 to each female head of the family, would be applicable only for BPL families. This is not for everyone. At the same time, according to some Congress leaders, ‘Griha Jyoti’, ‘Yuva Nidhi’ and ‘Shakti’ schemes are also likely to be restricted to BPL families.
State’s economy will be burdened
A senior bureaucrat said that if these schemes are implemented in real form without any conditions, it will put pressure on the state’s economy. He said that even if the conditions were implemented, it would put a burden on the state’s economy.
A retired bureaucrat who runs the city’s civic body ‘Brihat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’ said these schemes can be implemented only if there are strict austerity measures. Along with this, there should be control on unnecessary expenditure, there should be measures to prevent leakage, check on fake bills, pre-audit of every public work and ban on ’40 percent commission’. Besides, the Lokayukta should be given more powers to raid officials involved in wrongdoing, he added.
Skills and training to people
Social activist Katyayini Chamaraj said that instead of giving money for free, people should be empowered by giving them skills and training. According to him, the Congress, which launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, may launch the Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme and pay the money to unemployed graduates and diploma holders along with women heads of households.
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