Bengaluru: With the deadline to weed out ineligible beneficiaries of the Gruha Jyothi free-power scheme already over, Bescom has sought one final 15-day window for thousands of consumers who have either refused to disclose personal details or could not be reached during the two-month verification drive.The request comes as Bescom moves to conclude one of the state’s biggest beneficiary-verification exercises, launched to plug possible misuse of the scheme that provides eligible households with up to 200 units of free electricity a month.Among all the electricity supply companies (escoms), Bescom has the largest Gruha Jyothi beneficiary base. Of the 95.8 lakh domestic consumers spread across its eight-district jurisdiction, including Bengaluru, 68.9 lakh consumers had enrolled for the scheme. Bescom officials said the verification drive, which began in Aug and was extended by the state govt by a month, has now covered 98–99% of the enrolled beneficiaries. However, a small but difficult-to-reach group remains outside the verification net.“After the state govt extended the initial one-month verification deadline up to Sept, we have successfully completed verification of 98–99% of the enrolled beneficiaries. During these two months, we have identified two categories of consumers—those who have refused to share any personal details and those whose properties are vacant, locked or whose occupants are currently abroad. To give them one final opportunity for verification, we have sought permission from the state govt to provide these consumers with a 15-day window,” a Bescom official said.According to Bescom data, 5.5 lakh consumers currently availing free power under the Gruha Jyothi scheme have refused to share their personal details during the verification drive. Another 18 lakh households could not be verified as their properties were found locked or vacant, or the owners could not be reached.“(If govt extends the time), these consumers will get one final 15-day opportunity to establish their eligibility. However, unlike the earlier door-to-door verification, they will now have to visit their nearest Bescom division office and submit the required details to continue availing Gruha Jyothi benefits. Otherwise, they will be removed from the scheme,” the official explained.
