Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 6 (NT): The BJP –led Madhya Pradesh government has declared an outstanding power bill waiver scheme for laborers and poor families as ANI reported.

The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved the Bijli Bill Mafi Yojana 2018 (Power Bill Waiver Scheme) which is likely to benefit about 77 lakh people of the state.

Laborers falling under the unorganized sector in Madhya Pradesh will obtain power supply at a subsidized rate.

The state cabinet also permitted Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana 2018  which is a scheme to provide subsidized power,  in the meeting.

Under the subsidized power scheme, registered laborers of the unorganized sector and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be offered electricity at a cost of Rs 200 per month.

"In case the bill is lower than Rs 200, the beneficiary will have to pay the actual bill amount and in instance of the bill amount crossing Rs 200, the difference amount would be subsidised by the state government," an official release statement said.

Power connection under the Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana would be given free of cost to the beneficiaries. The scheme is likely to advantage 88 lakh families in the state.

"People not using air-conditioners, electric heaters and whose power consumption is below 1000 watts would be eligible for this scheme. The beneficiaries can operate a fan, a television, and bulbs. Under the power bill waiver scheme, pending dues (as on June 1, 2018) of registered laborers of the unorganized sector and poor families would be waived completely," it further said.

On a related note the scheme is expected to cost the state exchequer Rs 1000 crore and come into effect from July 1.(NT)