Govt Increases Power Subsidy for SC/ST Families from 40 to 75 Units per Month

The ruling administration decided on Friday to increase the amount of free power supplied to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families living below the poverty line (BPL) in Karnataka. The government plans to boost it from the current 40 units a month to 75.

With the assembly elections approaching, the ruling government agreed on Friday to increase the amount of free power provided to families in the below poverty line (BPL) category who belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST). The government intends to increase it from the current 40 units a month to 75.

The decision will help the BJP expand its support among these two groups. These two groups have the biggest vote share, accounting for roughly 24% of the electorate. According to The Times Of India, the decision would cost the state government roughly Rs. 979 crore every year.

During Babu Jagjivan Ram's 115th birthday celebrations last month, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai declared that the free power supply of 40 units per month would be increased to 75 units per month. 

Within a month of the announcement, the energy department cleared the proposal and sent it to the finance department for final approval, which is led by the CM himself. According to senior energy department sources, the decision will take effect in May 2022. The latest decision is likely to provide 'uninterrupted power' to SC and ST families covered by the Kuteera Jyothi and Bhagya Jyothi schemes.

According to V Sunil Kumar, Karnataka's Energy Minister, 1.46 crore domestic consumers consume less than 75 units per month. The Kuteera Jyothi and Bhagya Jyothi schemes reach around 39.26 lakh people. They consume approximately 1,35,692 million units per year.

The energy department would provide a subsidy of Rs. 694.15 crore to SC consumers and Rs. 285.42 crore to ST consumers. Kumar went on to say that because it was a welfare scheme, the agency did not want to delay it. To reap the benefits of the scheme, the communities have created a new set of rules.

According to a senior energy department official, metering will be required for these consumers, and because the government wants to apply the policy retrospectively from May 1, the beneficiaries should have paid their outstanding electricity bills by April 2022. Beneficiaries must send a copy of their bank passbook along with records because the subsidy will be credited directly to their account.