Electricity Subsidy for Rural BPL Families A Study of Agra District in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The current scenario determines our country to be in the top world economies being the largest and most populated country it still maintains the position and recognition among the fast developing nations across the world. India is also the largest consumer and producer of electricity to meet the needs and demands of its people. Electricity is a vital element that we all need for our routine and work life like infrastructural, industrial development, development of service sector, technological advancements, health, education and all other spheres of life. Therefore the objectives of this study was to determine the volume and composition of electricity subsidy provided by government, the social and economic development caused due to availability of electricity subsidy specially in lives of rural BPL households. The study also tries to compare the tariff structure of electricity charged to BPL and other domestic consumers in Uttar Pradesh and other states. The result of the study extracted through descriptive and inferential statistical measures such as various non-parametric tests and SEM Model concludes that though there is significant impact of these subsidies to rural and BPL families the government should still continue its measures programs and monitoring for successful implementation and overall growth and development. Promotion and encouragement to switch from traditional method of electricity generation to modern and sustainable measures such as use of wind, hydro and solar energy is the current need of the hour. newline