Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi beneficiaries have to reapply, says Karnataka Chief Minister

In a move claimed to be aimed at plugging leakage, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has announced that beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi and the Gruha Jyothi schemes, two of the five guarantee schemes in the State, need to reapply. 

While Gruha Lakshmi provides ₹2,000 per month to the woman head of the family, Gruha Jyothi provides free power to residential connections up to 200 units. 

Mr. Shivakumar has been hinting at the need to streamline guarantee schemes for sometime now. 

Clarifying that the government was not stopping these schemes and had no intention of removing any beneficiaries, Mr. Shivakumar said the government had to plug leakages.

“All those who provide correct documentation will continue to receive benefits,” he said. 

Gruha Lakshmi 

“It has come to our notice that benefits of over ₹100 crore had been claimed by others, in the names of those who had died under Gruha Lakshmi,” he said. 

The costliest of all the guarantee schemes, the government has spent ₹62,345 crore till 2025-26 and ₹28,608 crore has been earmarked for 2026-27. There are 1.24 crore women who have benefitted till now, as per the recent Budget.

Gruha Jyothi 

“Likewise, there are multiple electricity meters in the name of one person. We need to check if that person is staying at the same address, or if someone is else residing there, and whether benefits are going to people from our State, or to outsiders. Many are also using the Gruha Jyothi scheme for commercial properties. These things need to stop,” he said. “The cost of 200 units of power is increasing. The cost of power we are purchasing is also going up,” he added.

He further said all beneficiaries will be given ID cards. 

A total of 1.74 crore beneficiaries have benefitted under the scheme till now. The government has spent ₹28,000 crore till 2025-26 and has earmarked ₹10,578 crore for 2026-27, as per the recent Budget.