MYSURU: Barely months before elections in five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that the governance model of the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka will be replicated across the country.Addressing a gathering at the launch of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme here, Gandhi said the five guarantees of Congress announced before the Karnataka assembly polls are not just schemes but a governance model.
We are happy to fulfil the promises made to sisters on the Raksha Bandhan festival, the Congress MP said.Gandhi claimed the Karnataka governments Gruha Lakshmi scheme was the worlds largest cash transfer by any government since some 1.1 crore women were beneficiaries.
The government has earmarked Rs 17,500 crore for the scheme for the current financial year.
Of the 1.1 crore women in the state who head households, officials said 80% of them had received Rs 2,000 directly in their bank accounts by the evening.Taking a dig at the NDA government at the Centre, he said its a fashion these days that the government in Delhi works only for billionaires.
We believe the government should work for the welfare of poor people, he said.Recalling statements by BJP functionaries during the Karnataka assembly polls in May, PM Modi said we were making false promises to the people.
However, within 100 days of forming government, we have fulfilled four of our promises, all meant to empower women, he added.Echoing Gandhis view, AICC chief Mallikarjuna Kharge said no government in the country has ever launched a scheme on the scale of Gruha Lakshmi, and everyone is keen to implement it in their state.
He claimed BJP used every possible method to question and stall the implementation of the pre-poll guarantees.
The will of the people of Karnataka prevailed.
Financial empowerment of women is the bedrock of progress, and we will continue to make women a central theme for the future of our people.