Guarantee Schemes Will Continue Unchanged: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar assured the public that the state government has no intention of discontinuing any of its five flagship guarantee schemes, including the popular Shakti scheme.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office, Shivakumar clarified that recent remarks of his had been misconstrued. He emphasized, “There is absolutely no question of withdrawing any of the five guarantee schemes.”
Shivakumar explained that he had merely shared observations from discussions with economically independent women working in sectors like IT and multinational companies. According to him, some of these women, who receive conveyance allowances, expressed a willingness to pay for their own transport tickets. Shivakumar remarked, “I mentioned that I would discuss this with the Transport Minister, but I never suggested the guarantee schemes would be stopped.”
He further elaborated that while the schemes would remain accessible to all, they would not be imposed on individuals who might prefer not to utilize them. Drawing a parallel to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for citizens to voluntarily relinquish their LPG subsidies, he suggested that a similar voluntary approach could be explored for these schemes.
As KPCC President and Deputy Chief Minister, Shivakumar stressed that the government is committed to upholding these guarantee schemes for at least the remaining 3.5 years of the current term and potentially into the next five years under a future Congress administration.
When asked about allowing women the option to pay for their tickets, he explained that changes would require government approval, as transport employees might hesitate to collect fares due to existing legal provisions. Shivakumar indicated that further discussion with women affected by the scheme would help address any concerns.
Addressing criticism from former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who alleged that the schemes had strained state finances, Shivakumar countered that Kumaraswamy’s remarks reflected his discomfort with the success of the programs. “He is worried that people will not support his party,” Shivakumar asserted.
