#and to think that these buffoons were guaranteeing ₹8500 to certain households in India

[kailash-se-birha]

The five poll guarantees implemented by the Congress government are free travel for women across the state in non-AC state-run buses: 200 units of free power per month; Rs 2,000 per month for each female head of the family; 10 kg of food grains (rice, ragi, jowar, millet) per month to BPL (below poverty line) families; Rs 3,000 per month for two years to unemployed graduates; and Rs 1,500 per month for two years to unemployed diploma holders.

Expenditure on five guarantees

In 2023-24, the government launched four guarantee schemes under various departments. These are (i) Gruha Lakshmi, (ii) Gruha Jyothi, (iii) Shakthi, and (iv) Yuvanidhi. Along with the pre-existing scheme Annabhagya, these comprise five ‘guarantees’ provided to the public. In 2024-25, Rs 53,674 crore is proposed to be spent on these schemes. This is 47% higher than the revised estimates for 2023-24. More than half the allocation has been made towards the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. Under this scheme, women heads of families below the poverty line are given Rs 2,000 monthly. In 2024-25, this scheme has been allocated Rs 28,608 crore, which is 63% of the total estimated expenditure on social welfare and nutrition.

State finances

In February, chief minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented a revenue-deficit state budget for 2024-25, with total outlay set at Rs 3,71,383 crore. The deficit stood at Rs 27,354 crore, marking the first instance where borrowings in a fiscal year surpassed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark. Siddaramaiah also allocated Rs 52,000 crore towards the implementation of five guarantee schemes for 2024-25.

Some of the BCG short sighted policy recommendations being implemented:

Turns out the freebies are not really free and the brunt of these votebank promises are going to be paid by the average karnataka resident. As for the other BCG recommendations which don't involve cost transfer we'll have to wait and watch.