Guarantee schemes lifeline for poor, middle class: Dr Pushpa Amarnath
Mangaluru, March 12, 2026: Karnataka’s guarantee schemes have become a lifeline for the poor and middle class, providing crucial support to their lives, said Dr Pushpa Amarnath, vice-chairperson of the state Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority.
She was speaking after inaugurating a camp to process pending and rejected applications for the schemes, along with a programme marking International Women’s Day, organised jointly by the Kadaba Taluk Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee and Bilinele Gram Panchayat at the Bilinele Gram Panchayat hall in Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.
Dr Amarnath said the guarantee schemes have provided support in several ways — enabling education, ensuring electricity for households, offering free bus travel for women, addressing food security and extending assistance to the unemployed.
She added that a survey will soon be conducted at the village level to collect information on beneficiaries of the schemes. The survey will also verify whether ineligible persons are availing benefits meant only for the deserving.
Referring to women’s empowerment, Dr Amarnath said the Constitution has granted women equal rights, and there is a need for greater representation of women in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Parliament of India. She observed that the proposed women’s reservation at the national level remains largely on paper and expressed hope that it would be implemented soon.
Presiding over the programme, Bharath Mundodi, chairman of the district authority, said the schemes have given members of the implementation committees an opportunity to serve the people and that the benefits have been delivered to the public with sincerity.
Mamatha Gatti, chairperson of the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation, said the guarantee schemes have empowered women across the state.
Among those present were Umanath Shetty, Shahul Hameed, former Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat member P. P. Varghese, Harish Injady of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, award-winning teacher Satish Bhat, former Bilinele Gram Panchayat president Sharada Dinesh, Tamanna Jabeen, Gram Panchayat administrator Cheluva Rangappa and other officials and members of the implementation committee.
Earlier, Sudheer Kumar delivered the introductory remarks. Naveen Kumar Bhandari welcomed the gathering, while Chandravathi proposed the vote of thanks. Teacher Lokanath compered the event.
During the programme, pending and rejected applications related to the guarantee schemes were reviewed and disposed of. Achievers from various fields, along with Anganwadi and ASHA workers, and Kadaba taluk guarantee committee chairman Sudheer Kumar Shetty were felicitated on the occasion.
