Karnataka govt to formally launch 'Gruha Jyothi' free power scheme on Aug 5 in Kalaburagi
Bengaluru, Aug 1: Karnataka Energy Minister K J George on Tuesday said 'Gruha Jyothi' scheme, one of the five poll guarantees of the Congress promising to provide up to 200 units of free power to households, will be formally launched on August 5 in Kalaburagi.
"We had announced that from July, the electricity will be free up to 200 units and July's bill will come in August. We have now started the process of giving the bills. Under this ambitious scheme, already 1.42 crore consumers have registered," George said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, on the suggestion of the Chief Minister, cabinet colleague, legislators and others, it has been decided to organise a formal launch of the scheme, outside Bengaluru, and it will be at Kalaburagi on August 5.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, among others will grace the occasion, he said, adding that all the ministers have been asked by the CM to organise similar events in their respective districts.
The benefit under this scheme is calculated based on average consumption for financial year 2022-23, plus 10 percent additional, but total amounting to less than 200 units.
Of the 1.42 crore applicants so far, close to 18 lakhs were received from beneficiaries of various existing schemes such as Bhagya Jyothi, Kuteera Jyothi and Amrut Jyothi.
Stating that those who exceed 200 units usage will not be eligible under the scheme and their application will be rejected, George said.
"Those consumers who have applied and their consumption is within 200 units, based on the average and ten per cent additional, they will get zero bill. If the consumer has used above average and 10 per cent, but is still under 200 units, they will be charged the differential amount (between average and used units)."
Those who have registered under the scheme up to July 27 are eligible under the scheme, he said, adding there is no cutoff date for the scheme, and anyone who wants to register afresh and benefit from the scheme, can apply even now.
Responding to a question whether there is an increase in electricity consumption after the announcement of the scheme, the minister said there is no relation between the both.
Noting that there are 2.16 crore RR numbers (Revenue Register -- a unique identification number that is assigned to each electricity connection) in the state, he said, out of them 2.14 crore consumers use less than 200 units, and only 2 lakh use more than 200 units.
He said tenants can also apply for the scheme, and they have a different eligibility criteria, as the state average of 53 units plus 10 per cent additional usage, will be considered.
Responding to a question, George said the government will reimburse the Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) for the cost incurred due to the implementation of the scheme.
The government has already implemented poll guarantee, 'Shakti', by providing free services for women in public transport buses last month, and 'Anna Bhagya' scheme -- by payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kg rice to beneficiaries.
The remaining two guarantees that the government is taking steps to implement are -- Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi) from August 16; and Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (Yuva Nidhi) by November or December.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
