Rajasthan government has announced free domestic power connection to INR 7.60 Lakh families that include 2.25 Lakh BPL families. Besides, families would also be given free connections under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Scheme. Other 8.6 Lakh households that are not included in this scheme will be given the same facility under the Saubhagya scheme. Overall, this decision of the government will help around 15 Lakh families in the state.
While the families included under the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 will be provided free of cost connections, the families excluded from this category will be given power connection at INR 500 in 10 installments. As per the Executive Engineer at Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Scheme, earlier the connections were provided to the scheme beneficiaries at INR 3700 but now these will be provided free of charge.
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Reportedly, 2,13,456 beneficiaries were identified in Barmer to be included under the scheme for electrification. Out of these, notices were issued to 1,52,727 applicants and 60,717 of them had paid INR 3,700. Since the new decision of the government has to come into force, those who deposited their money after October 20, 2017, will be refunded the amount by making adjustments in the electricity bill.
Talking about the other 28,059 applicants who had applied for the Mukhya Mantri Sabke Liye Vidyut Yojna in 2013 won’t get any refund as they had paid the money before October 20, 2017. Notably, the government had earlier waived off farm loans and now it’s planning to provide free power connections. The opposition Congress is suspecting that BJP wants to woo the voters by modifying already existing schemes.
