The Karnataka government is now auditing the Gruha Jyothi scheme, which provides free electricity up to 200 units per month, following a clean-up of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. The State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority has flagged lakhs of ineligible beneficiaries, prompting the government to strictly enforce eligibility norms.
Eligibility Norms and Audit Findings
Beneficiaries must be registered voters in Karnataka, and each beneficiary can claim only one Revenue Register (RR) number. A six-month audit revealed that over 10 lakh non-voters in Karnataka have availed the scheme. Additionally, a significant number of individuals have been receiving free power through multiple RR numbers.
Currently, 1.7 crore beneficiaries receive free electricity under five Electricity Supply Companies (Escoms), with the government spending Rs 800 crore per month on subsidies.
Misuse and Planned KYC
In some cases, beneficiaries were diverting free electricity for commercial activities. To address this, the government is considering introducing a Know Your Customer (KYC) process to verify that beneficiaries are registered voters in Karnataka and that RR numbers correspond to residential units.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated on Monday that these schemes are not intended for non-residents. He emphasized, "We will ensure that the benefits are enjoyed only by voters in Karnataka. Why should we extend these benefits to those who do not vote here?"
Dinesh Gooligowda, Vice-Chairperson of the Guarantee Implementation Authority, noted that several households have been found availing benefits through multiple RR numbers. He explained, "The scheme is applicable to only one domestic RR number per beneficiary. In many urban households, there are two RR numbers: one for domestic lighting and another for water pumping motors or borewells. While the scheme is intended only for domestic consumption, several beneficiaries have been found claiming free electricity for water pumps and borewells as well."
He added, "In some cases, electricity subsidized under the scheme is being used for commercial activities operating from residential premises. We have urged the government to examine these instances of misuse and plug leakages."
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