Siddaramaiah govt in Karnataka gives nod to Congress's five poll guarantees but with riders

"We held a cabinet meeting today. We discussed all 5Gs thoroughly. We have decided that all 5Gs will be implemented in the present financial year," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

Siddaramaiah said the implementation of Gruha Jyoti will begin on July 1. "As much as 200 units of electricity will be free. Consumers who have not paid their bills till July will have to pay," he said.

However, Gruha Jyoti scheme will depend on the yearly consumption at the household level and people would not have to pay the power bill if the final figure is below 200 units, after calculating the monthly average and adding an extra 10 per cent, Siddaramaiah said.

Gruha Laxmi, a scheme that provides Rs 2,000 every month to the woman head of a family, will be implemented from August 15, he said. "Applications will be called for, and beneficiaries can submit them online from June 15 to July 15, along with their Aadhar and bank account details," CM said.

From June 1, bus travel for women would be free (Uchita Prayana) in public transport buses other than AC and luxury buses, he said. The KSRTC will reserve 50 per cent seats for men and the remaining for women, he said.

Siddaramaiah said 10 kg of rice will be given free to all BPL households and Antyodaya card holders from July 1, under the Anna Bhagya scheme.

Under the Yuvanidhi scheme, unemployed youngsters who graduated in 2022-23, will be provided an unemployment dole of Rs 3,000 for graduates and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders for 24 months from the date of registration, Siddaramiah announced.

"If they find a job in the meantime, then the dole would be stopped," he added.

The Congress government also estimated that the implementation of these schemes may cost about Rs 80,000 crore every year.

Ahead of the election, Congress had said that it will implement 5Gs if it formed a government in Karnataka. The party stormed into the Vidhana Soudha by winning 135 out of 224 seats.