Karnataka to Overhaul Gruha Jyothi Free Power Scheme; Out-of-State Tenants Barred, Door-to-Door Re-Application Drive Launched

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has initiated a major overhaul of its flagship Gruha Jyothi free electricity scheme. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar officially announced that new application forms will be distributed door-to-door across the state to prevent misuse and ensure the benefit reaches only eligible households.

The announcement was made at an appreciation ceremony for the Karnataka Electricity Transmission Corporation Employees Union and Associations Federation, held at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru.

1.64 Crore Beneficiaries Under the Scanner

Currently, approximately 1.64 crore people across Karnataka receive the Gruha Jyothi free electricity benefit. However, the government has received reports of widespread misuse of the scheme, prompting the decision to conduct a thorough screening of all existing beneficiaries.

Out-of-State Residents Excluded

CM Shivakumar made it clear that the benefit is meant exclusively for residents of Karnataka. "Henceforth, people who have come from other states to live here, or those who are not registered voters in Karnataka, will not be entitled to the Gruha Jyothi benefit," he stated.

He also warned that if anyone is found holding duplicate Gruha Jyothi connections — either under the same name or across multiple locations — those connections will be terminated immediately.

Door-to-Door Verification Drive

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will personally deliver new application forms to every household. Energy department staff will be required to individually verify the photographs and other details filled in these forms. "Under no circumstances should genuinely eligible beneficiaries face injustice," the CM emphasised.

Special committees will be formed at the panchayat level to oversee the proper implementation and review of all five guarantee schemes. Dedicated officers will also be assigned the specific responsibility of carefully examining eligibility criteria.

CM's Remark on Power Outages

At the event, Shivakumar praised the work of electricity department employees with a touch of wit: "If power goes out even for a minute, the public blames 'that DK's son came and cut the electricity.' But you as department staff are doing outstanding work."

Energy Minister Backs Decision

Energy Minister K.J. George, who also addressed the gathering, expressed full support for the CM's decision. He sharply rebutted opposition parties who have been criticising the move, saying it is the government's duty to correct errors in the scheme and bring the system back on track.