If Congress is Voted to Power in Other States...Rahul Gandhi Has Plans

BENGALURU: Rolling out cash benefit scheme ‘Griha Lakshmi’ wherein a female head of a family will get Rs 2,000 a month through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) from the State Government, Congress Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said to expand the 5-guarantees of Karnataka government to rest of the country (if Congress party is voted to power in other States).

At the inaugural function in Mysuru city, Rahul Gandhi said that “Karnataka shows the way (in the implementation of 5-guarantees)” and stated that the schemes of Karnataka such as free travel for women in State owned buses, free power supply upto 200 units, distribution of 10-kgs rice to BPL/Antyodaya card holders and unemployment allowances for graduates and diploma holders aren’t just schemes but “a governance model.”

On the rolling out of ‘Griha Lakshmi’ scheme, Rahul Gandhi termed it “one of the biggest cash transfer schemes of the country wherein a woman can save money or use it to educate her children and it is upto her to make proper use of the cash. But, our commitment has been fulfilled.”

He said he came to know the hardships of women in running a family owing to price rise during the 600-km Bharat Jodo padayatra in Karnataka and stated that 5-guarantees of the Karnataka government has not been framed by think-tank of the party or the idea of industrialists but the “Idea of people guided by women during the course of Bharat Jodo padayatra.”

“The announcement of 5-guarantees drew criticism from political opponents (initially) and now the truth is before the people,” he said and stated that “We want Rs 2,000 to reach all women of the State.”

“Women in Karnataka are behind the scenes heroes of a family,” Rahul said and stated “a serious thinking has gone into the 5-guarantees.” He stated that “a tree can storm gusty winds only if its roots are firm in the ground. So are the women in Karnataka who lay a firm foundation for a family.”

Of the 5-guarantees schemes in Karnataka, Rahul said four of them are for women except for unemployment allowances to graduates and diploma holders.

Criticising the Union Government, Rahul said that the Union Government frames programmes keeping in mind a couple of industrialist friends (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and “all programmes of the Union Government are for them.”

“Our thinking is that a Government should work for the poor and weaker sections of the society and none should lag behind irrespective of caste and religious lines. A Government should take care of all sections of the society,” said Rahul.

“We (Congress party) won’t give false assurances to the people and dare to tell them if it is feasible to implement a scheme or not. We go ahead only if a scheme is possible to be implemented,” said the Congress leader.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, president of All India Congress Committee Mallikarjun Kharge, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and others spoke.