The Himachal Pradesh government is preparing to give two major benefits to economically weaker sections of the state on October 2, with around 2.5 lakh women set to receive Rs 1,500 each and nearly 1.80 lakh extremely poor families expected to get up to 300 units of free electricity.
The Sukhu government prepares to roll out a women’s financial assistance and free electricity scheme for ultra-poor households.
The government will then begin preparations to transfer the assistance directly into the bank accounts of eligible women. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is expected to highlight the government’s welfare initiatives and their intended benefits for economically weaker sections. Around 2.41 lakh applications have already reached the Rural Development Department following verification of the eighth phase, according to officials. Around 10,000 additional applications are expected during the ninth phase, potentially taking the total number of beneficiaries to around 2.5 lakh. After the processing of applications received in the ninth phase, the list of eligible beneficiaries is expected to be notified at the SDM level on September 25. Alongside the women’s financial assistance scheme, the Himachal government is also preparing to implement a 300-unit free electricity scheme for around 1.80 lakh extremely poor families. The state government is planning to roll out both initiatives on October 2. The Social Justice and Empowerment Department will facilitate the direct transfer of Rs 1,500 to eligible women’s bank accounts after completion of the verification process.
The government says the direct benefit transfer mechanism is aimed at ensuring that financial assistance reaches eligible women without any intermediary.
