Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme is a livelihood support programme designed to help HIV-positive and HIV-affected women achieve financial independence through self-employment. Implemented by the Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation (KSWDC), the scheme provides a one-time incentive of ₹45,000 to eligible women to take up income-generating activities and build a sustainable source of income of their own.

Under the scheme, women can start small businesses and livelihood ventures such as tailoring units, dairy farming, livestock rearing, petty shops, food processing activities and other self-employment enterprises. The incentive is credited directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer, and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training is provided along with it to help beneficiaries set up and run the activity. The amount is an outright incentive and does not have to be repaid.

The scheme was introduced in 2016 and has since supported HIV-positive and HIV-affected women across Karnataka. In its early years it was a bank-linked scheme, under which beneficiaries received a loan along with a subsidy. The loan component was later withdrawn, and the assistance now reaches beneficiaries as a single incentive payment. Alongside economic rehabilitation, the scheme seeks to strengthen the confidence, social inclusion and overall well-being of women who face stigma and exclusion because of their HIV status.

In the Karnataka Budget 2026-27, presented on 6 March 2026, the Government increased the incentive under the Dhanashree Scheme from ₹30,000 to ₹45,000. The same enhancement was extended to the Chethana Scheme and to the rehabilitation schemes for gender minorities and former Devadasi women. This increase is expected to help more women establish sustainable livelihood activities and improve their long-term economic security.

The Dhanashree Scheme is part of Karnataka's broader commitment to improving the socio-economic conditions of vulnerable women through targeted livelihood and rehabilitation programmes. It is one of several schemes for which the Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation invites applications each year. Beneficiaries may also find the Chethana Scheme relevant, as it similarly supports women facing difficult social and economic circumstances through self-employment, and received the same increase to ₹45,000 in the Karnataka Budget 2026-27.

Women looking for a larger amount to set up an enterprise may consider the Udyogini Scheme, under which the Corporation provides a bank loan of ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000 along with a subsidy. While the Dhanashree Scheme is specifically designed for HIV-positive and HIV-affected women, these schemes extend assistance to other categories of women to help them establish income-generating activities.

Latest Update

Dhanashree Scheme 2026-27 applications are now open. The Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation (KSWDC) has invited fresh applications from HIV-positive and HIV-affected women for financial assistance to start a self-employment activity. The last date to apply for the Dhanashree Scheme is 31 October 2026, up to 5:30 PM.

Scheme Benefits

The Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme benefits give HIV-infected and HIV-affected women a one-time incentive to start a self-employment activity of their own. Here is what an approved beneficiary receives under the scheme.

• An incentive of Rs. 45,000/- is given to take up self-employment.
• The amount is an outright incentive, not a loan, so there is nothing to repay.
• The incentive is credited directly to the beneficiary's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Aadhaar seeding of the bank account is required for the transfer, so the money reaches the beneficiary without a middleman.
• Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training is provided along with the incentive.
• The incentive can be used for income-generating activities and small production units.
• No income ceiling is applied, so assistance is not restricted by family income.
• The amount was raised from Rs. 30,000/- to Rs. 45,000/- in the Karnataka Budget 2026-27.

Activities the Incentive Can Be Used For

The scheme supports any viable and lawful income-generating activity the beneficiary proposes, subject to approval. Commonly taken-up activities include:

• Tailoring and garment-related work.
• Dairy and livestock-based activities.
• Petty shops and small retail or trading ventures.
• Food processing and other home-based enterprises.
• Small service-based businesses.

How the Assistance Has Changed Over the Years

Dhanashree began as a bank-linked loan scheme and has since become a straightforward incentive. The table below traces that change, so readers who remember the older version are not misled by it.

Eligibility Requirements

Women applying for the Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme must meet the prescribed eligibility conditions. The scheme supports HIV-positive and HIV-affected women in Karnataka who want to start self-employment or other income-generating activities.

• Must be a permanent resident of Karnataka.
• Must be between 20 and 55 years of age.
• Must belong to an eligible beneficiary category:
  • HIV-positive women.
  • HIV-affected women, including wives of HIV-positive men.
  • Unmarried daughters of HIV-affected families.
• Must have an active bank account seeded with the applicant's Aadhaar number.
• Must have a mobile number linked to the applicant's Aadhaar number.
• Must intend to undertake an income-generating activity and submit the required business or activity plan.
• Must submit the prescribed medical certificate issued by an ICTC or ART Centre, or an ART Card.
• Must not have already received a benefit under any scheme of the Corporation.
• Only one eligible woman per family can receive assistance under the scheme.
• No income ceiling and no minimum educational qualification apply.

Applicants who applied in an earlier year and were not selected do not have to apply again, as per the Corporation's notification for 2026-27.

Required Documents

Applicants must keep the following documents ready before submitting the Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme application. The concerned authority may request additional documents during verification.

• Aadhaar Card.
• Proof of permanent residence in Karnataka
• Copy of the bank passbook
• Medical certificate issued by an ICTC or ART Centre, or an ART Card.
• Project report or business plan describing the proposed income-generating activity.
• Passport-size photographs.
• Recommendation letter, for applicants applying under the Government or Corporation discretionary quota.
• Any additional documents requested by the Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation or the concerned district office.

The applicant's mobile number must also be linked to her Aadhaar number, as the online application is verified through an Aadhaar OTP at the service centre.

Steps to Apply

Applications are accepted both online at a designated service centre and offline at the district office, and the last date to apply is 31 October 2026, up to 5.30 PM.

Apply Online at a Service Centre

1. Visit your nearest Bapuji Seva Kendra, Grama One, Bengaluru One or Karnataka One centre, where the application is submitted through the Seva Sindhu portal.
2. Tell the operator you wish to apply for the Dhanashree Scheme of the Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation.
3. Provide your Aadhaar number for OTP verification. Your Aadhaar must already be linked to your active mobile number for this step.
4. Give your personal details, including your name, age, address and contact number, for entry into the online application form.
5. Describe the self-employment activity you plan to start, such as a tailoring unit, petty shop, dairy or livestock unit, or a small trading business, along with its estimated cost.
6. Share your bank account number, bank name, branch and IFSC code. The account must be Aadhaar-seeded, as the incentive is credited directly into it.
7. Hand over your documents for scanning and upload, including your Aadhaar card, residence proof, bank passbook, photograph, project report and the medical certificate from an ICTC or ART Centre, or your ART Card.
8. Review the details on screen, get any error corrected on the spot, and submit the application on or before 31 October 2026, 5.30 PM.
9. Collect the acknowledgement slip or reference number from the operator for future follow-up.

Apply Offline at the District Office

1. Visit the office of the District Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, or the Development Inspector, Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation, in your district.
2. Collect the prescribed Dhanashree Scheme application form and read the instructions given on it.
3. Decide the income-generating activity you wish to take up and prepare a project report for it.
4. Fill in the form with your personal details, address, age, contact number and the proposed activity with its estimated cost.
5. Enter your bank account details, including the IFSC code, and confirm that the account is Aadhaar-seeded.
6. Attach self-attested copies of the documents listed in the Required Documents section above.
7. Submit the completed form along with the attachments at the same office by 31 October 2026, 5.30 PM.
8. Collect the acknowledgement or receipt as proof of submission.

Apply Under the Discretionary Quota

1. Obtain a recommendation letter from a Minister or a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Karnataka, or from the Chairperson of the Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation.
2. Carry the recommendation letter along with your other documents to a Bapuji Seva Kendra, Grama One, Bengaluru One or Karnataka One centre.
3. Submit the application through the Seva Sindhu portal at the centre, following the same steps as an online application.
4. Complete the submission on or before 31 October 2026, 5.30 PM, and collect the acknowledgement.

Applicants who applied in an earlier year and were not selected are not required to apply again, as per the Corporation's notification for 2026-27. A woman who has already received a benefit under any scheme of the Corporation cannot apply again.

Selection Process

Applications submitted under the Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme are scrutinised at the district level before the incentive is sanctioned, and the stages below set out how an application moves from submission to payment.

• The concerned officials verify the application and the supporting documents to confirm eligibility.
• Eligible applications are placed before the district committee, which is headed by the District Commissioner.
• The committee assesses the proposed income-generating activity and selects the beneficiaries.
• Selected applications are recommended to the Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation for sanction.
• The sanctioned amount is credited to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer.
• The beneficiary uses the amount to start the approved activity, and is provided Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training.

Applicants who applied in an earlier year and were not selected are not required to apply again, as per the Corporation's notification for 2026-27.

Relevant Links

• Official Website of Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation
• Guidelines for Karnataka Dhanashree Scheme
• Self-Employment Details of Dhanashree
• Dhanashree Scheme Details at the Official Page
• Karnataka Seva Sindhu Portal
• Financial Update in the Budget 2026-2027 about the Dhanashree Scheme

Contact Information

• Karnataka State Women's Development Corporation Contact Details
  • 080-26632792
  • 080-26632973
• KSWDC District-Level Development Inspector Contact Details