Bhatkal: Karnataka’s five flagship “guarantee” schemes are delivering annual benefits of around Rs 1,500 crore to Uttara Kannada district alone, Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport Minister and district in-charge Mankal S. Vaidya said on Wednesday.

Inaugurating a district-level workshop and “Guarantee Utsav” in Honnavar, he said the schemes have brought relief to poor and middle-class families, calling public satisfaction the true indicator of development. Statewide, the schemes account for nearly Rs 50,000 crore annually, he added.

State Guarantee Implementation Authority Chairman H.M. Revanna said that so far Rs 1,17,421 crore has been directly transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts across Karnataka without intermediaries. Under the Shakti scheme, 668 crore free bus journeys by women have been recorded statewide, with free tickets worth Rs 17,360 crore issued. In Uttara Kannada, 17.73 crore journeys were made at a cost of Rs 532 crore.

Under Anna Bhagya, free foodgrains worth Rs 11,821 crore have been distributed across the state; the district accounted for 1.8 crore beneficiaries and Rs 303 crore in allocation. The Gruha Jyothi scheme has provided free electricity (up to 200 units) to 1.65 crore consumers statewide, costing Rs 22,039 crore; 3.85 lakh families in the district benefited, with Rs 505 crore spent.

The Gruha Lakshmi scheme has transferred Rs 59,614 crore to 1.24 crore women heads of households across the state. In Uttara Kannada, Rs 1,599 crore has been credited to 3.37 lakh beneficiaries. Under Yuva Nidhi, Rs 912 crore has been disbursed to 3.08 lakh unemployed youth statewide.

Speakers said the schemes have enhanced purchasing power, women’s empowerment and employment generation. A media cell has been set up for awareness, and awards will be given to top-performing districts and taluks.