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Karnataka Keeps Five Welfare Guarantees Despite Fiscal Strain, Moves to Recover Wrongful Payouts

Leaders acknowledged verification lapses, including Rs 21 crore credited to deceased beneficiaries, prompting a sweep to claw back funds.

Overview

  • Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the five guarantees are a financial burden but ruled out stopping or revising any scheme.
  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah estimated the annual cost at over Rs 52,000 crore and said development works are continuing alongside the spending.
  • Guarantee Implementation Committee chairman H.M. Revanna said surveys found DBT payments continuing after deaths, and the state has begun recovery steps with officials and banks.
  • Shivakumar said roughly Rs 21 crore was credited to accounts of deceased women and noted that ration rice was also drawn in some deceased beneficiaries’ names.
  • Ministers acknowledged the absence of income-based screening, with affluent recipients using benefits; M.B. Patil urged the well-off to opt out as the BJP criticizes the fiscal impact.