Gruha Lakshmi Scheme: Rs 2,000 Not Credited for 12,719 Women in This District, Excluded from the Scheme

Karnataka’s Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which provides a monthly payment of Rs 2,000 to the woman head of a household, is facing a major cleanup in Bengaluru South district after officials discovered thousands of ineligible or deceased beneficiaries on the rolls. The district currently has 2,82,030 beneficiaries under the scheme, which began in August 2023.

According to the latest review conducted by the Department of Women and Child Development, 12,719 names have been removed from the beneficiary list in Bengaluru South district. Officials found that 6,624 women who were registered as beneficiaries had died, yet payments continued to be credited to their accounts in some cases. In addition, 4,800 women who were paying income tax or GST were also identified as beneficiaries, making them ineligible for the programme. These findings led to their removal from the list.

The highest number of deceased beneficiaries was reportedly found in Kanakapura taluk. To verify the details and recover funds that may have been deposited into the accounts of deceased beneficiaries, officials have begun collecting information through local anganwadi workers. The department says the revision process is being carried out to prevent public money from being misused and to ensure that assistance reaches genuine beneficiaries.

Of the 6,624 deceased beneficiaries identified in the district, 1,777 names have already been removed from the scheme. Steps are now under way to remove the remaining 4,847 names. The department is also examining cases where payments may have continued after a beneficiary’s death due to outdated records or delays in updating official data.

The scheme review has prompted a significant policy change. To stop irregular payments, the government is preparing to introduce a one-time biometric verification system for Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries. Under this system, eligible women will need to visit service centres and complete biometric authentication using a thumb impression, eye scan, or facial scan. Officials believe this will make the distribution process more accurate and reduce fraud.

The revised process will also require some additional documentation. For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries, the RD number listed on the caste certificate will be mandatory. Payments will be released only after the full form is completed and the required verification steps are finished.

The Gruha Lakshmi scheme remains one of Karnataka’s flagship welfare programmes, aimed at providing direct monthly support to women in households. But the large number of deaths, ineligible registrations, and continued payments has raised concerns over monitoring and database accuracy. The latest action in Bengaluru South district reflects the government’s attempt to tighten oversight, clean up beneficiary records, and ensure that only eligible women receive the monthly assistance.