Government’s Promised Relief Under Fire as Beneficiaries Left to Pay Arrears

Hyderabad*: The Telangana government’s flagship Gruha Jyothi scheme, designed to provide free electricity up to 200 units for domestic consumers, is now facing backlash as numerous beneficiaries report being left out, despite fulfilling all the required criteria. The situation has caused widespread frustration, especially among those who were assured they would receive zero electricity bills under the scheme but are now being asked to pay arrears.

Initially launched with much fanfare, the Gruha Jyothi scheme was promoted as a significant relief measure for lower-income households. However, the implementation appears to have hit several roadblocks. Beneficiaries have claimed that many eligible individuals were excluded in the first phase, and though the government invited them to reapply, a large number of applicants have still not received the promised zero bills.

The issue has escalated as power officials have begun demanding payment of arrears from those who applied for the scheme and stopped paying bills since March when the scheme was announced. Power utilities have stated that the scheme would only come into effect once zero bills were generated, leaving many citizens in a difficult situation. Despite assurances that they would not have to pay until they received zero bills, these households are now being asked to clear all pending dues, leading to accusations of the government backtracking on its promises.

For instance, in the Jagtial district alone, it is estimated that over 50,000 people who applied for the scheme are now facing demands to clear their arrears. One woman reported that despite applying with all necessary documentation, she has been receiving bills every month, and her application seems to have been ignored.

Similar issues are being reported across other districts, including Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal, where 19.8 lakh applications were submitted under the Gruha Jyothi scheme as part of the Praja Palana programme. However, around 2.5 lakh eligible applicants are still receiving electricity bills, a situation officials have attributed to incomplete data entry, preventing these consumers from benefiting from the scheme.

The situation is particularly concerning in Nizamabad and Warangal districts, where those who applied and stopped paying their monthly bills are now being asked to clear arrears. Reports have surfaced that power utilities are even threatening to disconnect electricity if the pending bills are not settled, further aggravating the frustrations of the affected households.

Political leaders have also weighed in on the issue, with former minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao sharply criticizing the Congress government for its handling of the scheme. Rao accused the government of failing to deliver on its promise of free electricity and implementing the scheme merely as a formality. He highlighted the plight of the poor who are being forced to pay bills under the pretense that zero bills have not been generated. Rao’s criticism extended to the broader governance of the Congress, questioning whether any of the promises made in their manifesto, particularly the six guarantees, were being fully implemented.

As the controversy continues, the Telangana government faces mounting pressure to address the grievances of the affected citizens and to ensure that the Gruha Jyothi scheme fulfills its intended purpose of providing relief to the state’s low-income households.