Bengaluru: Gruha Lakshmi amount would be deposited to the bank account  of beneficiaries ahead of Varamahalakshmi festival, said Minister for Women and Child Welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkar, here yesterday.

Speaking at the Janandolana Public Rally organised by Congress party, she said that amount could not be deposited for the past 2-3 months owing to technical reasons.

“The beneficiaries will start getting the amount for the month of June and July as the process has already begun. A total of 26.65 lakh beneficiaries will receive the benefit by Varamahalakshmi festival,” she said and added that, in the first phase the beneficiaries of Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Vijayapura, Ballari, Raichur, Gadag, Bagalkot, Haveri, Koppal, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Bengaluru and Kolar will receive the amount totalling up to Rs. 533 crore.

“There had been a delay in depositing the amount owing to Model of Code of Conduct which was enforced during the recent Lok Sabha Polls. However, measures have been taken to credit the amount as early as possible,” she said.

The State Government had to face criticism from women and the opposition parties for not depositing Gruha Lakshmi amount. In fact, the opposition parties had said that, State Government was financially unstable.

However, the Congress leaders hit back at the Opposition stating that, the State Government was arranging funds and there was no proposal to stop the guarantee schemes.