A file photo of Laxmi Hebbalkar.
| Photo Credit: UMESH S SHETTIGAR
1. Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar apologises for ‘wrong’ information on Gruha Lakshmi payment after BJP stages dharna
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on apologised in the Karnataka Assembly for giving wrong information to the House on payment of Gruha Laksmi scheme installments, after the BJP members staged a protest demanding an apology. A few days ago, the Minister, in her reply to BJP member Mahesh Tenginakayi, had claimed that the government of Karnataka had cleared all the pending installment towards Gruha Lakshmi scheme till August 2025.
Though the Opposition members had complained that the installments for February and March had not been paid, she had maintained that there were no pending installments. Subsequently, when it turned out that the installments for these two months had not been paid, the Opposition members had urged Speaker U. T. Khader to ask the Minister to clarify.
On December 17, the Opposition members insisted that the minister should clarify to the House immediately and also tender an apology to 1.26 crore beneficiaries. They accused the Minister of misleading the House. Pointing out that the two installments amounted to nearly ₹5,000 crore, they urged her to let the House know where did the money went.
2. Congress legislators stage protest in Belagavi against renaming of MNREGA scheme
Congress legislators, on December 17, staged a protest in Belagavi alleging that the Central Government had targeted its leaders in the National Herald case, and to oppose the Union Government’s move to rename Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Graman) – VB-G Ram G.
Addressing the gathering, CM Siddaramaiah said that the BJP government at the Centre was engaged in the politics of hatred. “The party is targeting Congress leaders by filing false cases. …During Mr. Modi’s rule, the debt has increased. Since independence, the country has had total debt of ₹53 lakh crore. However, during Mr. Modi’s rule, total debt has increased to ₹148 lakh crore,” he said.
3. Elephant task force in Dakshina Kannada will be functional in a week: Forest Minister
Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar Khandre has assured Dakshina Kannada-Udupi Local Authorities constituency MLC Kishor Kumar Puttur that the elephant task force sanctioned for Dakshina Kannada district will become functional from next week. He also promised to visit Sullia taluk that has been affected by the conflict immediately after the legislature session.
The Minister said he would would strive to find a permanent and scientific solution to end the human-elephant conflict by preparing a comprehensive action plan, covering aspects, namely, elephant movement patterns, hotspot identification, emergency response mechanisms, fencing and barrier systems, lighting arrangements and technology-based surveillance.
Published – December 17, 2025 06:12 pm IST
