Bengaluru: Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar issued a formal apology in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday for providing incorrect information concerning payments under the flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme. The minister admitted that financial benefits for the months of February and March 2025, totalling nearly ₹5,000 crore, were still pending disbursement to beneficiaries.
Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar stated the error was unintentional and assured the House that the government would expedite the process to clear the outstanding Gruha Lakshmi dues at the earliest. This revelation, however, triggered strong protests from the opposition BJP, which accused the Congress government of misleading the Assembly and grossly mismanaging public funds, leading to a walkout by BJP legislators.
The Gruha Lakshmi scheme, a cornerstone welfare guarantee of the Congress government, provides ₹2,000 per month to the woman head of eligible households across the state.
