Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Apr 29: The government’s ambitious Five Guarantee schemes must be implemented effectively to ensure that every eligible beneficiary in the district receives the intended benefits, said Ashok Kodavoor, district president of the Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee. He was presiding over the Udupi district-level progress review meeting of the committee held at Dr V S Acharya Auditorium, Rajathadri, Manipal, on Tuesday, April 29.
"Most eligible beneficiaries in the district have been availing the benefits under the Five Guarantee schemes. However, some applicants have faced technical issues that have prevented them from receiving benefits. Such issues must be addressed on priority, and if they are eligible, they should be included as beneficiaries. Officers should be appointed in every department to resolve such issues," said Ashok Kodavoor.
Under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, he pointed out several limitations in the software, such as the inability to change the head of the family if the existing one has passed away, update applications for newly constructed houses, or apply using a new ration card. These concerns will be brought to the government’s attention to ensure that eligible families are not denied benefits.
Beneficiaries at the grassroots level have reported that although the first three to four installments under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme were disbursed, the remaining payments have not been credited. Kodavoor stressed that the reasons behind such delays must be communicated to beneficiaries and the technical glitches resolved swiftly.
He also noted that some registered applicants under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme have been denied benefits because they are income tax or GST payers. In the district, 7,151 applications remain pending due to IT, GST, or e-KYC mapping issues. He urged officials to re-examine these cases and extend benefits to all eligible individuals.
Referring to the Gruha Jyoti scheme, Kodavoor explained that electricity consumers are allowed free usage of up to 200 units, calculated by adding 10 percent to their average monthly consumption of the previous financial year. Due to increased summer usage and slight delays in bill payments, some consumers have had their power disconnected, leading them to believe their benefits were withdrawn. He instructed MESCOM engineers to properly inform consumers and to introduce a grace period for paying excess charges.
He announced that 100 new buses will soon be added to the Mangaluru division, of which 40 will be deployed in Udupi district. He called for the necessary arrangements for their operations. While the Udupi KSRTC bus stand is equipped with modern facilities, Kodavoor pointed out the poor maintenance of the escalator and stressed the need for improved toilet cleanliness.
Under the Yuva Nidhi scheme, 3,661 candidates have registered in the district and 2,741 have received Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments. He emphasised the need for more registration camps to raise awareness and bring more eligible youth under the scheme’s umbrella.
District panchayat chief executive officer Prateek Boyle stressed that any grievances from the public related to the guarantee schemes must be resolved promptly and satisfactorily by the concerned officials.
The meeting also highlighted frequent server issues at fair price shops, where biometric authentication is required to collect rations. These technical problems, Boyle said, must be resolved immediately. Of the district’s ration cards, 1,406 Antyodaya and priority household cards still require e-KYC completion, which must be expedited.
For elderly, bedridden, and disabled individuals who are unable to visit ration shops, a proposal will be submitted to the government seeking exemption. Boyle also directed officials from the food and civil supplies department to ensure that Annapoorna Yojana boards are displayed at all fair price shops in the district within a week.
Concerns were also raised about irregular city transport bus services to some rural areas, especially on Sundays and public holidays. Several routes suspended during the COVID-19 period have not resumed. KSRTC officials were instructed to submit a detailed report on this issue.
The committee also suggested increasing the electricity limit under the Gruha Jyoti scheme for newly constructed houses, which currently stands at 58 free units. Additionally, they urged timely payment of honorariums to committee presidents and office-bearers.
The meeting was attended by district-level Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee vice presidents Prashanth Jathanna, Satish, Santosh Kulal, and Geeta Wagle, along with other committee members, taluk-level presidents, and district officials.