Karnataka's Gruha Lakshmi funds boost small businesses in Shivamogda

Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries in Shivamogga say the scheme’s cash has helped them start or expand small businesses and raise family income. Vice‑Chairperson R. Mehroz Khan of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority led a review meeting in the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on October 27, 2026. He met women who received the money and heard how they used it. Kalavathi of Ripponpet, Hosanagara taluk, moved from ironing clothes to buying saris and cloth to sell, which lifted her household earnings. Savitha of Umblebailu, Shivamogga taluk, left daily‑wage labour and opened a chicken stall that now feeds her family. Neelamma of Bhadrapura, Bhadravati taluk, bought a cow, grew fodder and sold milk, adding a steady income stream. Another Savitha from Anandapura, Sagar taluk, quit uncertain quarry work, saved the grant and set up a village provisions store. Khan praised officials for smooth implementation and said lakhs of people benefit from the guarantee schemes. He noted the Gruha Lakshmi disbursals: ₹584.23 crore in 2023‑24, ₹768.31 crore in 2024‑25 and ₹841.14 crore in 2025‑26. Officials said ₹73.76 lakh is owed to the state from deceased beneficiaries; Khan ordered a bank meeting to recover the amount. He reminded beneficiaries to keep personal SIM cards and assured that the scheme will not be stopped for any eligible person. Khan was accompanied by Authority district president C.S. Chandrabhupal and Zilla Panchayat CEO Rishi Anand. He also highlighted the Shakti free‑bus scheme, which has logged 8.69 crore trips by women and cost the state ₹336.19 crore to KSRTC, and the Anna Bhagya fair‑price shop timings. The Gruha Jyothi electricity subsidy has reached 4,73,682 families, with a total spend of ₹823.69 crore; verification of the remaining 15,262 houses will finish by end‑October. Khan urged collection of college data and better training under Yuva Nidhi Plus, noting that 1,31,395 DBT accounts have received ₹39.09 crore so far.

Context

The Gruha Lakshmi scheme is a state‑run cash grant aimed at empowering women in rural Karnataka, typically given as a one‑time payment to start livelihood activities. Its impact is measured by increased household earnings and diversification of local small‑business sectors.