Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhion Monday promised women heads of families in Karnataka Rs 2,000 per month if the party is elected to power in the upcoming state elections.

The poll promise specifically targets women, who make up nearly half of the 5.05 crore voters in the state.

The Congress also announced a separate manifesto for women as part of the party’s Naa Nayaki (I am a woman leader) programme in the poll-bound state.

Under the Gruha Lakshmi Yojana to be implemented if the Congress is elected to power, each female head of the family will be paid Rs 2,000 per month through direct benefit transfer.

Addressing a sizeable gathering of women at the Palace Grounds here, Priyanka said she agreed to launch theGruha Lakshmi Yojana on the condition that the party would have a separate manifestoladen with several projects for women in the state.

“In addition to the 200 units of free electricity, my colleagues will be announcing in the women’s manifesto many new schemes for all of you to move forward and bring changes in your life,” Priyanka told the gathering in the presence of senior party leaders from the state.

“The elections are coming in a few months. I ask you only one thing. Look at the last few years. Evaluate your own life, think whether it has become better, whether you have got the facilities you require, whether the people in power have cared about your problems, or has your life become more difficult?”