The Karnataka Government has taken a significant stride in empowering women by launching the Gruha Lakshmi Scheme, a pioneering initiative under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The program is designed to extend financial assistance to the women who serve as the heads of their households, supporting them in their day-to-day responsibilities and endeavors.
Minister of Women and Child Development, Laxmi Hebbalkar, highlighted that women whose names appear as the heads of families on either Above Poverty Line (APL) or Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards are eligible to avail themselves of the benefits offered by the scheme. To be eligible, the women, as well as their husbands, should not fall under the income tax category, and they must not be government employees. It is crucial to ensure that only one woman from each family will be recognized as the beneficiary under the Gruha Lakshmi Scheme.
Beneficiaries can choose between offline and online registration processes. For offline registration, interested women need to visit designated centers with all the required documents, and there is no registration fee. On the other hand, for online registration, the following steps need to be followed:
- Visit the official portal of the ‘Seva Sindhu Guarantee Scheme.’
- Select the ‘Gruha Lakshmi Scheme’ option from the list.
- Click on ‘Click here to apply.’
- Fill in all the required details and upload the necessary documents.
- Click on ‘Submit’ and make a note of the application form number for future reference.
The Gruha Lakshmi Scheme has a specific set of required documents, including the Above Poverty Line (APL)/Below Poverty Line (BPL)/Antyodaya Card, a bank-linked Aadhar Card, and the bank details of the beneficiary with an Aadhar-linked phone number.
The Karnataka Government has shown its commitment to the welfare of women by promptly launching the Gruha Lakshmi Scheme, fulfilling its promise within a short span after assuming power. With registration commencing on 19th July 2023, the scheme is set to benefit an impressive 1.1 crore women and 12.8 million families in the state. The monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,000 provided under the scheme will directly support women in their responsibilities as heads of households, contributing to their financial independence and empowerment.