The Congress government in Karnataka on Wednesday launched the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme. Under the scheme, the state government will provide Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the women heads of families.

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar were among those present at the launch of the scheme in Mysuru.

“Gruha Lakshmi” scheme is one of the five pre-poll ‘guarantees’ of the Congress, during the May Assembly elections.

The government has earmarked Rs 17,500 crore for the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ programme in the current financial year.

At the launch event, Rahul Gandhi said that today, crores of women had received Rs 2000 directly into their bank accounts. “Before the elections, the Congress party had made five promises to Karnataka. We had said that when Congress party and its leaders say something, they do it. Today, when we click on the tablet, crores of women receive Rs 2000 directly into their bank accounts,” Gandhi said.

“Like today, crores of women will be getting Rs 2000 monthly in their bank accounts through the direct transfer method,” he added.