More than 86% of the domestic power consumers in the state have now come under the Indira Griha Jyoti Yojana (IGJY), paying Re 1 for a unit of electricity, according to the latest buzz in the state.
Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country where 1,00,86,000 (as of November 25, 2019) families have come under the purview of the scheme and are availing the benefits of cheap electricity.
The total number of domestic consumers in M.P is 1, 16, 97, 880.
Keeping the promise made in its manifesto, the state government introduced the IGJY in February for domestic consumers, who used up to 100 units per month. Under the scheme, consumers using up to 100units of powers had to pay only Rs100.
In September 2019, the state cabinet extended the benefits to consumers, who used up to 150 units of power. It was implemented in October onwards.
Speaking to popular News channels in the state, minister for energy, Priyavrat Singh, said that the scheme has received encouraging results with 97, 40, 699 domestic consumers, or 83.27% benefiting from it in October.
In June-July 2018, Shivraj Singh Chouhan had waived power bill dues of the unorganized sector laborers and offered electricity at a flat rate of Rs200, making it to the headlines in neighboring states.
The maximum beneficiaries (3, 29,103) availing the scheme are from Indore under the Western Region Power Distribution Company. Chhindwara was home to 3,43,932 beneficiaries, who come under the Eastern Region Power Distribution Company. As many as 3,33, 577 consumers from Sagar and 2,74,679 from Guna are availing the scheme under the Central Zone Power Distribution Company.
In October, with more than 97 lakh beneficiaries, the state government had estimated that the subsidy scheme will cost Rs3,400 per annum to the exchequer. However, as the number of beneficiaries goes beyond 1 crore, the cost could escalate to Rs4,000 crore.
That’s a great move for the Madhya Pradesh government. It will be good to see if this continues in good faith and brings affirmation to the needy, instead of ending up as another failed initiative.
(Some text and figures have been taken from a News Source)
Also, read our blog on another initiative taken by the Government over the SMART METERS, here
