Karanataka: Gruhalakshmi re-verification begins with biometric checks

The Karnataka government will carry out a fresh verification of beneficiaries under the Gruha Lakshmi Scheme through biometric and facial authentication to identify eligible recipients, officials said on Saturday. An order for the exercise was issued on August 28 after the government examined a proposal seeking Cabinet approval.As part of the re-verification exercise, beneficiaries will be provided the facility to complete biometric or face authentication. An e-DCS-based mobile application and web application have been developed specifically for the purpose and are currently at the final stage of verification.
According to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, the government is set to undertake a fresh verification of beneficiaries under its ambitious Gruha Lakshmi scheme through Seva Sindhu centres and a door-to-door survey, The door-to-door re-verification will begin on August 30 and is to be completed within a month. According to the order, the exercise is aimed at removing beneficiaries who are currently ineligible from the scheme.
The state government has so far disbursed Rs 76,951 crore under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which currently has 1,24,48,938 beneficiaries. Since the scheme was launched, women heads of households have been receiving Rs 2,000 per instalment directly into their bank accounts. A total of 32 instalments have been credited to beneficiaries so far.The need for the re-verification has also come under sharper focus following discrepancies involving payments made after beneficiaries’ deaths.
According to the chief minister’s response, 3,13,297 beneficiaries died between the launch of the scheme and the end of June 2026. Despite their deaths, Rs 117.31 crore was credited to the bank accounts of 1,10,562 beneficiaries. Of this amount, only Rs 40.07 crore has so far been returned to the government’s account head, leaving a substantial amount yet to be recovered.Belagavi has recorded the highest number of deaths among Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries, with 24,705 beneficiaries having died. Kodagu has recorded the lowest number, with 2,991 beneficiaries having died.
The government is also undertaking the process of adding other eligible members of the families of deceased beneficiaries as replacements under the scheme.

(State Correspondent)