Pushpa Amarnath defends honorarium for guarantee committee members amid opposition criticism in Karnataka

Accusing the opposition of selectively targeting the Congress-led initiative in Karnataka, Pushpa Amarnath, vice-chairperson of the Karnataka State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee, accused the BJP of appointing party and RSS workers as PAs to ministers in neighbouring Maharashtra.

Pushpa Amarnath, vice-chairperson of the Karnataka State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee, dismissed the opposition claims that payment to guarantee committee members amounted to misuse of taxpayers’ money.

Speaking at a press conference in Mysuru on March 13, she criticized the BJP and JD(S) for attempting to discredit the schemes despite widespread public approval.

Referring to one of the major points raised by the opposition — pertaining to honorarium paid to guarantee committee members — Ms. Amarnath said, “It is only a modest honorarium ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 per visit, and none of them enjoy any additional facility or luxury.”

“There are only 25 members in total for the entire State. Their role is purely administrative, ensuring that the benefits of the schemes reach the deserving,” said Ms. Amarnath refuting suggestions that the committee members were superceding the MLAs. ‘’Can the guarantee committee members wield the power of the MLAs. Is it even conceivable?”

Accusing the opposition of selectively targeting the Congress-led initiative in Karnataka, Ms. Amarnath accused the BJP of appointing party and RSS workers as PAs to ministers in neighbouring Maharashtra.

She accused the BJP and JD(S) of politically motivated opposition to the guarantee schemes, arguing that the programmes have helped people rebuild their lives amid rising prices, and claimed that the opposition is rattled by their success.

She said workers, daily wagers, women, and marginalised communities have benefited from the schemes, unlike under the previous BJP government when they all felt let down and bore the brunt of price rise.