Guarantee schemes trigger war of words in Karnataka’s Legislative Council

…Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti alleging that the programmes had contributed to a shortage of farm labourers in rural areas. Participating in a discussion on the drought situation on Thursday, Mr. Horatti said, “ I rear 80 cows, cultivate fodder on 10 acres, and supply milk to a dairy every day. But after the guarantee schemes were introduced, there is nobody to water the cattle or supply milk to the dairy. ” He said cotton growers in his region were also struggling to find workers to harvest their crop. “The cotton is ready in the fields, but there are no workers to pick it,” he said. ‘Don’t leave youth idle’ Referring to…

…he said. ‘Not charity’ His remarks led to heated exchanges between the Opposition and the Treasury Benches. Congress members, including Nagaraj Yadav, intervened to defend the government’s welfare programmes. They said the ₹2,000 assistance provided to the woman head of a family under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme was not charity but a measure intended to provide financial security. Congress members also said similar welfare measures had subsequently been adopted in several other States despite earlier criticism of such schemes. Review free schemes Mr. Horatti, while defending his criticism, said…