Saas-bahu fights erupt over cash incentive

The proposed implementation of the Karnataka government's ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme, offering a monthly subvention of Rs 2,000, is said to have inadvertently sparked conflicts between ‘atthe and sose’ (mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law) in several households. Instances of disputes between ‘saas’ and ‘bahu’ have begun to surface as family members argue over who should receive the monthly cash incentive. The lack of clear eligibility criteria in the Congress' election manifesto, where they pledged to grant the monthly subsidy to the woman head of the family, has further contributed to the confusion among households. When asked, women and child development minister Laxmi Hebbalkar was queried on the issue, she said it’s a decision for the family to take. But later clarified that the money should ideally go to the mother-in-law as she is considered the female head as per Indian tradition. “She can share the money with the daughter-in-law, if she wishes,” Hebbalkar added.