The Chief Minister said- The amount saved by giving up the subsidy will be used for the development of Bihar and strengthening the education system. The government clarified that at present the free electricity scheme is not being stopped.
Tezzbuzz Desk – Patna. Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has made a new appeal to the capable citizens of the state regarding the 125 units free electricity scheme in Bihar. The Chief Minister has urged the affluent families to voluntarily give up the benefit of electricity subsidy, so that the saved amount can be used for the development of Bihar. He has especially emphasized on strengthening the education system. After this statement of the government, the discussion has intensified regarding the financial burden of the free electricity scheme and the condition of the government treasury in the state.
In fact, just before the Bihar Assembly elections, a scheme to provide 125 units of free electricity to every family in the state was started. Now Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has appealed to the capable citizens to voluntarily give up the subsidy for this facility. The Chief Minister says that the state government is providing 125 units of free electricity to all the families, rich and poor, without any discrimination. In such a situation, those families who are financially capable can contribute to the development of the state by taking advantage of this facility.
According to the Chief Minister, due to electricity subsidy, the government has to spend about Rs 8 thousand to Rs 10 thousand annually on each family. He told that Bihar government is spending about Rs 23 thousand crore every year only on electricity subsidy. In such a situation, if rich families voluntarily give up subsidy, then the amount saved by the government can be used for other important development related works.
Samrat Chaudhary has said that the resources available by giving up subsidy will be used to carry forward the development plans of Bihar. Strengthening the education system is also a priority. The government argues that the amount saved with the cooperation of capable citizens can be used for the basic needs and development works of the state.
However, after this appeal of the Chief Minister, the political debate regarding the financial condition of the Bihar government has also intensified. Opposition parties have been continuously alleging that schemes like free electricity and giving Rs 10,000 each to women have increased the pressure on the government treasury. The opposition claims that the government has financial challenges even in paying the salaries of employees and MLAs. However, these are allegations made by the opposition.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra has also raised questions on this issue. He says that after the Chief Minister appealed to the capable people to give up electricity subsidy, questions are being raised about the condition of the government treasury. At the same time, the issue of loss of revenue due to liquor prohibition in Bihar has also been a part of political debate.
The most important question in this whole matter is whether the 125 units free electricity scheme is going to be closed in Bihar. At present, the government has not taken any such decision. According to available information, the scheme is not being discontinued and the Chief Minister's appeal is completely voluntary. Like before, needy consumers will continue to get the benefit of 125 units of free electricity.
In this way, Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has appealed to the capable families to give up subsidy and has called it a means of contributing to the development of Bihar. Now it has to be seen how many consumers willingly give up the subsidy on this appeal and how much money this helps the state government to save.