Meeting held with weaver representatives under chairmanship

of Minister Rakesh Sachan

Discussions held on extension of scheme up to 20 kW, relief

in electricity tariff and resolution of old outstanding bills

Lucknow, 28 July (HS): Yogi Government is continuously

working to protect the interests of the weavers of the state, solve their

problems and provide new strength to the handloom and powerloom industry. In

this sequence, on Tuesday, an important meeting was held in the meeting hall of

Khadi and Village Industries Board, Khadi Bhawan, Dalibagh, Lucknow, under the

chairmanship of the state's Khadi and Village Industries, Silk, Handloom and Textiles

Minister Rakesh Sachan, with the weaver representatives of the state regarding

the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Powerloom Weaver Electricity Flat Rate Scheme of the

Handloom Department.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Stamps, Court

Fees and Registration, Ravindra Jaiswal, and Minister of State for Minority

Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Hajj, Danish Azad Ansari, were also present at the

meeting. Weaver representatives from various districts of the state presented

in detail their problems and suggestions regarding electricity rates, the flat

rate scheme, discrepancies in electricity bills, outstanding dues, subsidies,

load increases, metering, and new electricity connections.

The meeting discussed in detail the proposal to expand the

scope of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Powerloom Weavers Electricity Flat Rate

Scheme, operated in the interest of weavers, from the current 0 to 5 kilowatts

to 0 to 20 kilowatts. It was also clarified that no adverse changes would be

made to the current system for weavers in the 0 to 5 kilowatt category. The

proposed expansion will pave the way for powerloom weavers with 5 to 20

kilowatt capacity to also benefit from the scheme.

The meeting was informed that over 95,000 power connections

in the state are in the 0 to 5 kilowatt category, representing approximately 94

percent of the total powerloom connections. Weaver representatives demanded

that the interests of small weavers be prioritized, that they be placed in a

separate category from large weavers, and that further electricity tariff

relief be provided. Representatives stated that the expansion of the scheme to

20 kilowatts is welcome.

The meeting also discussed the financial aspects of the

Electricity Flat Rate Scheme.

Currently, the government incurs a financial burden of approximately

Rs. 600 crore annually to provide the scheme's benefits to weavers in the 0 to

5 kilowatt category. Expanding the scheme to cover 5 to 20 kilowatts is

expected to result in an additional annual financial burden of approximately Rs.

189 crore. Thus, the government's total annual financial obligation after the

expansion could be approximately Rs. 789 crore.

Weaver representatives also prominently raised the issue of

discrepancies in electricity bills and pending bills. The meeting discussed

issues related to benefits payable under the 2006 policy until March 31, 2023,

pending bills, late payment surcharges, and interest. Weavers reported that in

many cases, despite government subsidies, large outstanding amounts are still

being reflected in electricity bills. The meeting considered resolving

outstanding bills for periods prior to April 2023 and providing installment

payments while providing relief from interest and late payment surcharges. A

proposal to implement a one-time settlement scheme for resolving outstanding

bills was also discussed.

The meeting also proposed that a special campaign be

launched in August to resolve weavers' electricity bill problems at the

district level. Under this campaign, weavers will bring their electricity bills

to the respective district's electricity department office, where the bills

will be reviewed and any necessary amendments made, and the details will be

sent to the central level. Discussions also focused on assessing outstanding

balances related to dead or long-inactive connections and taking appropriate

action.

Minister Rakesh Sachan listened attentively to the concerns

and suggestions of weaver representatives. He stated that the Yogi government

is committed to protecting the interests of weavers and their economic empowerment.

The government's goal is to ensure that the benefits of the Electricity Flat

Rate Scheme reach as many eligible weavers as possible and that small weavers

are not burdened with unnecessary financial burdens.

He said that after a comprehensive examination of the

suggestions received from the weavers, the data of the Electricity Department

and the financial aspects of the scheme, practical and weaver-friendly

decisions will be taken. Coordination will be established with the concerned

departments to resolve the discrepancies in electricity bills, old dues,

subsidy adjustment, load increase and connection related problems. Principal

Secretary Anil Kumar Sagar along with departmental officers, Electricity

Department officials and weaver representatives from various districts of the

state were present in the meeting.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi