Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday interacted with electricity consumers across the state via video conference, marking the launch of a scheme offering free domestic power of up to 125 units a month. The programme, held at ‘Sankalp’ in the CM’s official residence at 1, Anne Marg, connected participants from all districts, with several women from Supaul, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur and Gaya sharing their experiences.
Under the Chief Minister’s Electricity Consumer Assistance Scheme, nearly all domestic consumers will now receive 125 units of electricity per month free of cost. Beneficiaries hailed the move as a major financial relief. Komal Kumari from Supaul said the savings would be set aside for her daughter’s future, while Nalanda resident Leela Kumari noted the money could now be spent on essentials such as food, education and healthcare. Gudiya Khatoon from Muzaffarpur and Noor Jahan Khatoon from Gaya said their bills had dropped to zero, allowing them to focus on their children’s wellbeing and household needs.
Opening the event, energy department secretary Manoj Kumar Singh welcomed the chief minister with a sapling, before a short film on the department’s achievements was screened. Addressing the audience, Kumar recalled that in 2005 Bihar faced prolonged power cuts, even in Patna, but his government’s investments and policy changes had transformed supply, electrifying every village by October 2018 under the ‘Har Ghar Bijli’ scheme.
Kumar said that while electricity is costly to procure, consumers have long been charged below market rates. “From the July bill onwards, almost all domestic consumers will get free electricity up to 125 units per month,” he said, noting that 18.9 million households stand to benefit. He also highlighted efforts to promote solar energy, with rooftop installations on government buildings and plans to extend the option to interested households.
Around 1.6 million people participated in the programme, joined by ministers in charge of districts, legislators, district magistrates and other public representatives. Energy and planning minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary, also addressed the gathering.
Kumar closed by thanking the energy department for organising the event and pledging to “continue working in the interest of the people”.
