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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Cost of promises: on the Bihar election and poll-eve welfare measures
It is raining welfare in Bihar. Nothing surprising: the stakes are high for the ruling National Democratic Alliance in the approaching Assembly elections. According to recent announcements, household consumption of up to 125 units of electricity per month will be free, with effect from August 1 this year. This scheme will cover around 1.67 crore households. Under the Kutir Jyoti Yojana, the government will provide free rooftop solar installations for about 58 lakh Below Poverty Line families. The welfare hamper of the ruling coalition also includes a promise of 35% job reservation in all State government jobs for women, an increase in social security pension from ₹400 to ₹1,100, the creation of a Bihar Youth Commission, and more. A new internship support scheme offers between ₹4,000 and ₹6,000 a month to youth (18 to 28 years) for undertaking internships, and based on their educational qualifications. The plan is to start supporting 5,000 youth in the first year and scaling it up to cover one lakh beneficiaries over the next five years. To promote religious tourism, the State has announced a ₹882.87 crore redevelopment plan for Punaura Dham Janki Mandir, said to be the birthplace of Lord Rama's wife Sita. Migrants from the State who live outside will receive government support to return home during festivals. All this follows a familiar pattern of governments using welfare as an instrument of election-eve management of popular sentiment. The absence of any serious planning or vision behind such sporadic announcements is evident. They are often in response to the promises of a political rival. In Bihar, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has said that the Nitish Kumar government's welfare catalogue is a forced reaction to its promises of similar measures if voted to power. Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Mahayuti government rolled out a cash transfer scheme for women which helped it win. Later, the new government pruned the list, admitting that there were undeserving beneficiaries. Free electricity schemes now exist in several States. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often questioned the rationale of 'freebies', but arbitrary new schemes continue to proliferate. In Bihar, the scramble among parties is also in the context of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's advancing age. His party, the Janata Dal (United), is smaller than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the election could further alter the dynamics of State coalition politics. The control of power had increasingly shifted from Mr. Kumar to the BJP in the last five years and the future of the JD(U) is set to decline. Competitive welfarism is all that remains in the toolkits of all parties to woo voters.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Cabinet approves govt's free electricity scheme
Patna: The state cabinet at its specially convened sitting, chaired by CM Nitish Kumar, on Friday approved the govt's proposal to provide 125 units of free electricity to 1.67 crore domestic power consumers, which is 90% of the total consumers. Even the consumers who use more than 125 units of power will get relief, as usual tariff rate adjusted with the existing power subsidy will be applicable on the excess power used. In another major decision, the cabinet okayed a proposal to promote the use of solar energy by all domestic consumers. For this, the govt has earmarked a hefty sum shared by both the Centre and state under 60:40 ratio, which would be spent on the installation of solar energy equipment and panels on rooftops under Kutir Jyoti Yojana to cover domestic consumers belonging to below poverty line (BPL) category, who will get full subsidy. Overall target is to shift to the use of solar energy in the next three years. The provision of 125 units of free electricity will become effective from Aug 1. In tune with the same, the 1.67 crore power consumers will not be required to pay the bills for July. State energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the govt's stress is on promoting the use of solar energy. The shift on a large scale will help reduce the amount of money being spent on power subsidy, he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become an American citizen - Apply for a Green card americ24 Undo The policy to give free electricity will put an additional subsidy burden of Rs 3,797 crore during the current fiscal. To promote the use of solar energy in the state, the cabinet approved the proposal to spend Rs 60,000 crore under the centrally supported Kutir Jyoti Yojana. Of this sum, the central share is Rs 33,000 crore, while the state's is Rs 27,000 crore, which will be provided for the expansion of the CM Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayata Yojana. Under the solar energy promotion scheme, the equipment of 1.1 kilo watt capacity, along with solar panels, will be installed free of cost on the rooftops of 58.89 lakh BPL consumers. The rest will get some quantum of financial assistance under PM Surya Yojana and CM electricity consumer assistance scheme.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Freebies before polls: 125 units of free power to all households in Bihar
Patna: In a major populist move ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced free power up to 125 units to all domestic consumers in the state. Kumar came up with the announcement on social media, stating that the benefit will reach 1.67 crore households. He also said the free power benefit will be effective from August 1. 'This means that no charges will be levied for 125 units in the bills for July itself,' said Kumar, who also claimed 'we have already been providing cheap electricity to all consumers'. Notably, the longest-serving CM of the state has for long been a votary of 'one nation, one tariff', claiming that under the present circumstances, Bihar was getting electricity from the grid at a high rate. Kumar's latest move comes in the backdrop of the promise of '200 units of free electricity' by his rival and former deputy Tejashwi Yadav, whose RJD helms the opposition INDIA bloc in the state. In his social media post, the JD(U) supremo also made a strong pitch for promoting solar power in Bihar, stating that an estimated 10,000 MW will be produced in the state through the alternative source of energy in the next three years. He spoke of 'Kutir Jyoti Yojana', a fully state-funded scheme, which entails the installation of solar panels at public places as well as the rooftops of poor people's houses with their consent.
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Masterstroke by Nitish Kumar ahead of Bihar assembly polls, makes THIS BIG announcement for all households, JD(U) chief says...
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Patna: In a major move ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced free power up to 125 units to all domestic consumers in the state. The chief minister made the announcement on the social media, stating that the benefit will reach 1.67 crore households. He also said the free power benefit will be effective from August 1. 'This means that no charges will be levied for 125 units in the bills for July itself,' said Kumar, who also claimed 'we have already been providing cheap electricity to all consumers'. Notably, the longest-serving CM of the state has for long been a votary of 'one nation, one tariff', claiming that under the present circumstances, Bihar was getting electricity from the grid at a high rate. Nitish Kumar Pitches For Promoting Solar Power In his social media post, the JD(U) supremo also made a strong pitch for promoting solar power in Bihar, stating that an estimated 10,000 MW will be produced in the state through the alternative source of energy in the next three years. He spoke of 'Kutir Jyoti Yojana', a fully state-funded scheme, which entails the installation of solar panels at public places as well as the rooftops of poor people's houses with their consent. Kumar's latest move comes in the backdrop of the promise of '200 units of free electricity' by his rival and former deputy Tejashwi Yadav, whose RJD helms the opposition INDIA bloc in the state. Prime Minister Modi to Visit Bihar on July 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Bihar on Friday when he is scheduled to address a public rally in East Champaran district, besides launching development projects worth over Rs 7,000 crore. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation development projects catering to Rail, Road, Rural Development, Fisheries, Electronics and Information Technology sectors. PM Modi will dedicate to the nation multiple rail projects. He will lay the foundation stone for 4-laning of Ara bypass of NH-319 that connects Ara-Mohania NH-319 and Patna-Buxar NH-922 providing seamless connectivity and reducing travel time. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the 4-lane Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319, worth over Rs 820 crore, part of NH-319 which connects Ara Town to NH-02 (Golden Quadrilateral) that will improve freight and passenger movement. PM Modi will inaugurate New Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility at Darbhanga He will inaugurate a series of fisheries development projects sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Prime Minister Modi will flag off four new Amrit Bharat trains: Prime Minister will flag off four new Amrit Bharat trains between Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) to New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari to Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal), Darbhanga to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) and Malda Town to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur improving connectivity in the region. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for multiple rail projects. Rail projects include development of infrastructure for maintenance of Vande Bharat trains at Patliputra. Automatic signalling on Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin rail line (114 km) to enable streamlined train operations. Upgradation of traction system in Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin section to enable higher train speeds by strengthening the traction system infrastructure and optimising energy efficiency. Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project worth around Rs 4,080 crore to increase sectional capacity, enable operation of more passenger and freight trains, strengthen connectivity between North Bihar and the rest of the country.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
1.67cr homes to get 125 units of free power: CM
1 2 Patna: CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced that the state govt will provide 125 units of free electricity to 1.67 crore domestic consumers from Aug 1. He added that financial assistance will be extended to poor and eligible households opting to install solar panels under the Centre's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The announcement was made through the CM's official social media handle. "We have decided that all domestic power consumers will get 125 units of free electricity from Aug 1 this year. That is, they will not have to pay for 125 units of electricity from the bill of July. It will benefit 1.67 crore families in the state," Nitish said. The initiative is expected to increase the state's subsidy burden, which already stands at Rs 15,995 crore for the current financial year. The provision of free power will add several thousand crores to the state's expenditure. To mitigate the financial impact, the govt plans to promote solar energy use under both the Bihar Kutir Jyoti Yojana and the PM Surya Ghar scheme, which provides a 50% central subsidy for the installation of rooftop solar panels and associated equipment. Explaining the plan further, Nitish said, "We have also decided that the consent of these domestic power consumers will be taken for installing solar panels on the rooftops of their houses, or on nearby public land, to give them the benefit of solar energy." He added, "Under the Kutir Jyoti Yojana, the govt will bear the cost of installing solar energy equipment for extremely poor families and the govt will also provide proper financial assistance to the remaining ones." Highlighting the long-term energy goals, the CM said, "As a result of this, the domestic consumers will not have to bear the cost of 125 units of electricity and in tune with the same as much as 10,000MW of solar energy will be available in the next three years." Currently, the state provides a power subsidy to all domestic and several other categories of consumers. The new policy will build on that support, while gradually shifting towards sustainable and decentralised energy sources. While political comparisons have been made in the past regarding free electricity promises, the CM, in his statement, refrained from responding to any such proposals made by opposition leaders. He reiterated that Bihar has historically aimed to provide affordable electricity rather than making it entirely free. "Right from the beginning, we have been making electricity available to all at cheaper rates," Nitish said, maintaining that the current decision aims to balance affordability with sustainability.
