INTRODUCTION
CM Ashok Gehlot launched ‘Kisan Mitra Oorja Yojana’ through video conferencing. He also launched various other projects of worth Rs 308 crore by Ministry of Energy of the state on this occasion.
CM Gehlot acknowledged the hardwork of the farmers and offered to provide relief measures for the agriculture sector. The government initiative is to uplift the Agri-economy after a decline during pandemic.
KEY FEATURES:
- The government will offer a grant of Rs 1,000 every month that sums up to a maximum of Rs 12,000 every year on the electricity bills generated by metered agricultural consumers registered under the state.
- The government will bear a financial burden of Rs 1,450 crore per annum to provide relief to farmers. Despite the rate of five rupees 55 paise per unit of agricultural electricity in the state, farmers will have to pay only 90 paise per unit of electricity whereas the government will pay the remaining four rupees 65 paise per unit.
- Under the bi-monthly payment scheme, the eligible agricultural electricity consumers will be provided with the bill issued by the Electricity Department.
- The scheme began from the month of May of 2021.
- 60 percent of the electricity bill will be payable on a pro-rata basis, subject to a maximum of one thousand rupees per month.
- The state or central government employees and income tax payers are not eligible for the subsidy.
- The consumer/ farmers are required to link their Aadhar card to their bank account. As the amount will be sent by the electricity distribution corporations to the consumer only after introspection of the bank accounts.
- After paying the dues, the subsidy amount will be payable to the consumer on the upcoming electricity bill. If a farmer consumes less electricity and his bill is less than one thousand rupees, then the difference between the actual bill and the grant amount will be deposited in his bank account. This will encourage the saving of electricity among the farmers.
