After Delhi, West Bengal plans to offer subsidized electricity
What's the story
The West Bengal government on Monday announced a subsidy on electricity along with a flurry of sops in its last full Budget ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections. According to the Budget, the state government plans to waive electricity bills if the quarterly consumption is under 75 units. The government also announced sops for small businesses, the unemployed youth, etc. Here are more details.
Details
West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra presented Budget
West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Monday presented the Rs. 2.55 lakh crore Budget. Notably, the Budget included a scheme for subsidized electricity wherein those who consume up to 75 units of electricity will enjoy free electricity. Recently, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra also announced plans for subsidized electricity, taking a page out of Delhi's playbook.
Information
Maharashtra mulls free electricity up to 100 monthly units
Maharashtra Power Minister Nitin Raut said on Friday that the state would consider giving free electricity to those with a monthly consumption under 100 units. "I have asked the department to study the proposal and take a decision in three months," he said.
Twitter Post
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal lauded Maharashtra government
I am glad cheap electricity has become part of national political discourse. Del has shown that it is POSSIBLE to provide free/cheap elect. Del has shown that it also gets u votes
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 10, 2020
21st century India must have 24x7 power available to all at cheap rates https://t.co/ynMC8vLyGV
Bengal Budget
MSMEs get Rs. 200cr; Housing scheme for tea garden workers
Separately, the Bengal government allocated Rs. 200 crore for MSMEs (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises). Rs. 500 crore was set aside for a housing scheme for tea garden workers, named 'Chai Sundari'. The government also proposed waiving agricultural income tax for tea gardens for the next two fiscals. This scheme would benefit three lakh workers across Bengal's 370 tea gardens, Mitra said.
Other announcements
Rs. 1,000 monthly old-age pension for SC/STs
The state allocated Rs. 500 crore for social security for 1.5 crore families from backward classes. It also announced the allocation of Rs. 2,500 crore to provide Rs. 1,000 monthly old-age pension to members of the Scheduled Castes. Rs. 500 crore was allocated for similar schemes for the Scheduled Tribes. The state also allocated Rs. 500 crore for loans/subsidies for the unemployed youth.