Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 8: Alarmed by the diversion of crores of rupees to the bank accounts of deceased beneficiaries, the Karnataka government is moving to introduce a Life Certificate requirement under its flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme to prevent misuse of public funds.
The proposal aims to stop financial assistance from being credited to the accounts of beneficiaries who have passed away. State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority vice-chairperson and MLC Dinesh Gooligowda has submitted a written representation on the issue to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar.
Taking cognisance of the representation, chief minister Siddaramaiah has directed the state chief secretary to immediately examine the matter and take appropriate action. The government is considering implementing a mechanism similar to that followed for retired government employees, who are required to submit a Life Certificate annually to continue receiving pension benefits.
At present, the Gruha Lakshmi scheme covers around 1.24 crore beneficiaries, with the state government having spent over Rs 57,300 crore on the programme so far. The proposed move is aimed at preventing payments in the names of deceased beneficiaries and plugging leakage of government funds.
Gooligowda’s representation
In his representation, Gooligowda pointed out that women listed as heads of households on Antyodaya, BPL and APL ration cards are considered eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. He stated that financial assistance amounting to approximately Rs 57,300 crore has been disbursed to 1,24,12,543 eligible beneficiaries so far.
He stressed the need for periodic verification of beneficiary records to identify those who have died and to prevent further payments in their names. Drawing a parallel with pension rules, he urged that eligible beneficiaries under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme should also be required to submit a Life Certificate periodically.
Payments continue even after death: H M Revanna
Highlighting the scale of the problem, H M Revanna, chairman of the State Guarantee Implementation Committee, said crores of rupees from the state exchequer are still being credited to the accounts of deceased beneficiaries.
Speaking at a Guarantee Mela organised as part of the Raichur Utsava, Revanna said a total of 1,44,056 women beneficiaries in the state have already died. Of these, the bank accounts of 68,776 beneficiaries continued to receive payments even after their death.
He revealed that an amount of Rs 79,75,66,000, nearly Rs 80 crore, has been credited to the accounts of deceased beneficiaries, with 3,98,783 instalments of Rs 2,000 each released in their names after their demise.