Karnataka reviews welfare schemes, may restrict to voters

The Karnataka government is preparing a major review of its five flagship welfare guarantee schemes, with a focus on potentially restricting benefits to registered state voters, a move that has ignited a political debate over eligibility and fiscal sustainability. The review follows a six-month audit that reportedly identified over one million beneficiaries of the Gruha Jyoti free electricity scheme who are not registered to vote in Karnataka.

Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar stated that the schemes, which include free bus travel for women and monthly stipends, were intended for the people of Karnataka and not for outsiders. He indicated that a final decision on new eligibility norms is expected after a Cabinet meeting on June 20. The government plans a fresh verification drive requiring beneficiaries to resubmit applications, a process officials believe could remove hundreds of thousands of ineligible recipients, including cases of benefits being credited to deceased persons.

The proposed shift has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and policy experts. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress government of attempting to dilute its electoral promises due to...