Ashok Gehlot's Rajasthan government announces relief on power bills, continuing social welfare initiatives
Jaipur, June 01: In a move to address public concerns and ahead of the upcoming assembly election, the Congress-led Rajasthan government, under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, has introduced changes to its free electricity policy. The new announcement includes free electricity up to 100 units and a fixed rate for the subsequent 100 units. The decision comes as a result of feedback received from the public, as stated by Chief Minister Gehlot.
Chief Minister Gehlot, in a tweet in Hindi, mentioned that after interacting with the public and considering the feedback obtained from inflation relief camps, a modification in the slab-wise exemption for electricity bills was deemed necessary. Additionally, public feedback regarding fuel surcharges on electricity bills in May also played a role in this significant decision.
महंगाई राहत शिविरों के अवलोकन व जनता से बात करने पर फीडबैक आया कि बिजली बिलों में मिलने वाली स्लैबवार छूट में थोड़ा बदलाव किया जाए.
- मई महीने में बिजली बिलों में आए फ्यूल सरचार्ज को लेकर भी जनता से फीडबैक मिला जिसके आधार पर बड़ा फैसला किया है.
-
- 100 यूनिट प्रतिमाह तक बिजली… pic.twitter.com/z27tJRuyaf — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) May 31, 2023
The announcement was made in the late evening, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign launch in Ajmer, where he criticised the state Congress for alleged corruption and factionalism.
Also Read: Farmers convene mahapanchayat to address wrestlers' #MeToo protest against WFI chief
This marks the Congress party's major announcement since December when Chief Minister Gehlot promised substantial subsidies on cooking gas, slashing prices by over half and providing 12 cylinders per year at a cost of Rs 500 each.
In the previous year, the Rajasthan government introduced a comprehensive health insurance scheme that offers free medical facilities up to Rs 25 lakh at government hospitals. Furthermore, the minimum monthly pension under the social security scheme has been increased to Rs 1,000.
The Congress party had adopted a strategy similar to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Karnataka ahead of the assembly election. The promise of free water and electricity, which had proven successful for AAP in Delhi and Punjab, also resonated with the voters in Karnataka.
However, reports indicate that the slow implementation of the policy has caused some challenges for the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka. In recent weeks, farmers in various areas have refused to pay power bills, demanding that the distribution company agents collect payment from the state government instead.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is capitalizing on the ruling party's predicament, finding satisfaction in their defeat. BJP MP Pratap Simha has urged people with consumption below 200 units not to pay electricity bills starting from June 1.
Also Read: BSF Foils Infiltration Attempt: Pakistani intruder shot dead along IB in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba
- With inputs from agencies
