-SATISH HANDA

Due to epidemic outbreak all over in the country, industry as well as families below poverty line (BPL) in Haryana state have been worst affected in past over a year. It is first time in the state since past six years, government has decided to reduce electricity tariff for industry in the state as well as domestic consumers with effect from month April onward this year. Information reveals, there are total number of 70,54,976 electricity consumers in Haryana and government has decided to charge fixed rate Rs 6.90 each unit under Times of Day (TOD) and  Times of Use (TOU) schemes in order to bring relief to industry suffering  from economic slow down and bring back on the track. The rebate in electricity tariff will also be provided to domestic power consumers in the state suffered heavy financial losses in their earnings in past about a year. State government has also decided to provide electricity to immigrations grounds, grave yards, religious places,  advocate chambers in the courts, railway DMRC and sll domestic consumers at subsidized rates offering 10 Paisa rebate on each unit consumed by the consumers, besides fixed charge on industrial consumers reduced from Rs 170 to Rs 165 each KW.

Haryana state government has also offered facilities to families below poverty line in the state worst effected in past one year due to COVID-19 either faced financial losses in business or lost employment due to lock down declared by the government or industrial sickness offering them essential commodities free of cost or at concessional rates under Antyoday Ann Yozna (AAY) scheme by the state government in which 5 kg wheat will be supplied to each member of BPL family in the state free of cost from ration depots for the month May and June 2021.

Haryana state government will also provide facilities to families belonging to weaker sections holding ration cards under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yozna by the Union government. According to information, there are total number of 27,04,855 BPL card holder families in Haryana state having total number of , 1,22, 51,366 members in their families availing benefits under different schemes through 9690 ration depots in the state which include 2,48,134 families holding Pink cards having 9,98,340 members  in their families, 8,92,744 families holding Yellow card having a strength of  41,546 family members. Similarly, there 15,63,947 families holding Brown cards having  71,52,480 family members to avail benefits under OPH scheme getting 1 kg sugar each card holder@ Rs 13.50 per kg and 2 litre mustard oil each card holder @ Rs 20 per kg during months May to July 2021. There is also provision for supply of 25 kg wheat to each card holder supplied @ Rs 5 per kg every month with effect from May to July 2021to BPL families residing in Ambala, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Rohtak and Hisar districts in the state.