Vijayawada: 175 units power to be supplied free to SCs, STs

Vijayawada: On the occasion of the 62nd birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the government of Andhra Pradesh has declared that the power utilities will implement the Jagjeevan Jyothi scheme for the beneficiaries.

The AP power utilities which have been providing 24x7 quality and reliable power supply to consumers at low cost stabilised tariff, have geared up to ensure 100% delivery of public welfare schemes like Jagjeevan Jyothi.

Energy Secretary Ajay Jain who held a teleconference with nearly 6,000 power officials and staff on Thursday said that Chief Minister

N. Chandrababu Naidu has agreed to extend the benefit of free power up to 100 units to SC and ST consumers under Jagjeevan Jyothi scheme. Houses of these communities consuming 125 units per month would be  supplied free power.

The scheme was earlier applicable up to 75 units and and now, it has been extended to 100 units to benefit more than 11 lakh SC and ST consumers, providing over '250 crore subsidy per annum,  which will be reimbursed by the social welfare departments immediately.

Mr Jain said the government will initiate stringent action against local linemen and assistant engineers if they failed to implement the scheme or if they collect electricity bills from the beneficiaries against the policy of the government which insists on helping the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

He directed the CMDs of DISCOMs to continuously implement the Jagjeevan Jyothi by conducting mandal-level and district-level meetings  and  print on the electricity bills of SC/ST categories that the  AP government is providing free power up to 100 units.

Mr Ajay Jain also said that energy minister Kala Venkat Rao has  directed  CMDs of DISCOMs to review implementation of the scheme by conducting  teleconferences every 15 days.