Karnataka - Hassan   

Bhagya Lakshmi scheme delayed

HASSAN: The launch of Bhagya Lakshmi scheme for girl children of poor families appears to have hit a roadblock again with the State Election Commission announcing elections to 163 local bodies.

Minister for Women and Child Development H.K. Kumara Swamy told presspersons at Belur on Wednesday that the scheme would be launched in Bangalore on August 6. But official sources the scheme would be launched on August 8 when the notification for the election would be issued and the model code of conduct would come into force. Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa announced the scheme in the State Budget for 2006-07. The Government has tied up with LIC of India and already paid Rs. 166 crore to issue bonds. The beneficiary will get annual scholarship and medical claim up to Rs. 25,000 a year. Official sources said it was decided to take 50 children from each district to Bangalore as a token of representation. But now it had been decided to take two children from each district.

The Director, Women and Child Development Department has sent a circular to all district offices to take two children and their parents to Bangalore. But the selection of beneficiaries has become a problem for the officials. First, it was decided to insist on below poverty line ration card. But many did not possess the cards. Then it was decided to get the income certificate of the parent of the girl child. Matters got complicated when all parents brought the income certificate.

With the announcement of the local body elections, the beneficiaries will have to wait till September 2 to receive the bonds of Rs. 10,000.

Mr. Kumara Swamy told presspersons at Belur that the Deputy Chief Minister wanted to launch the scheme at the earliest. At the district and taluk level, respective district in charge ministers would distribute bonds in the presence of MLAs.

On August 8, about 7000 beneficiaries would get their bonds symbolically but the others would have to wait till the election procedure was over.

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