Whether the farmer is small, medium or big, Tamil Nadu The government is giving free electricity connections. However, the expenses incurred for digging new borewells or renovating existing borewells, and the money spent on the palms of the officials with the electricity board, hold small farmers back from the race.
A section of farmers believes that several issues should be addressed first to ensure that the free electricity supply scheme is inclusive and effective.
According to the government order issued by TANGEDCO on September 15, 2021, the state power minister announced that one lakh agriculture service connections will be provided on fast track to the motor pump sets of the farmer in the state.
Recently, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that farmers have been provided one lakh free electricity connections in less than a year. Farmers said that even though the government has said that those with minimum land holdings – half an acre – are eligible to register for free electricity, digging borewells to irrigate only half an acre will cost lakhs of rupees. “Hence, farmers who have large landholdings are coming forward to use the scheme.
Farmers who can spend a minimum of Rs 3 lakh for a borewell can get a connection,” said PS Masilamani, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayagal Sangam, an affiliate of CPI. “There are some who have been waiting for years for electricity.
The borewells dug by them are full of silt, so they have to spend money to remove the silt. If more than one electric pole is needed, the farmer will have to pay for it. These things can be possible only for people with money,” he said. Masilamani said that in addition to the money to be spent for the set-up, farmers would have to spend up to Rs 50,000 “to work at a faster pace”.
As per the allocation of 2021-22, more than 70% connections were given under the general scheme, which is free. Whereas 25% farmers were given preference under the self-financing scheme, where farmers had to send money ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. He said that the remaining farmers were given connections under the Tatkal scheme, for which they had sent an amount of two lakh to three lakh rupees depending on the motor power they needed.
Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association secretary Swamimalai S Vimalanathan said the scheme has a broad specification that does not work for all regions. “As per the norms laid down by the PWD department, the borewell should be dug 200 meters from the water source. Being a delta region, this rule cannot be applied here. Because water sources and canals cut the fields. Due to this rule many farmers could not apply for the scheme.
The organization is demanding the cancellation of the government order for the Delta region. At least 17,672 electricity connections were provided to farmers in delta districts including 3,115 connections in Trichy district in 2021-22. Going beyond the number of connections provided, the disparities in the plan become apparent. For example, thousands of farmers having agricultural land of less than one acre got electricity connections under the 3A1 tariff scheme.
These farmers mostly cultivate vegetables, flowers and greens. Since these products come under horticulture crops, they are paying up to Rs 25,000 per year as electricity charges. “Though these are small farmers (land wise), they are not offered free power supply. Meanwhile, farmers having large agricultural land enjoy free electricity under the scheme. Therefore, to benefit small farmers, the government should give exemption in electricity bill. Farmers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh get free electricity connections within 30 days of applying. Farmers say that the Tamil Nadu government also needs to expedite this process.
But it doesn’t appear that Tangedco is complicit in the staff shortage. “The workforce available in the department is not sufficient to start the statewide agriculture project. D Kalaiselavan, a farmer from Thanjavur, said it is equally easy to move the pillars on agricultural land due to the paucity of staff. Another issue is the lack of high tension (HT) power cables.
“Earlier we were waiting for a transformer. Now power is not available due to non-availability of HT power cable. Officials cite the Ukraine war as the reason for the lack of HT power cables,” said Kallislavan, for whom electricity to get his water pump set to work is a pipe dream.
A section of farmers believes that several issues should be addressed first to ensure that the free electricity supply scheme is inclusive and effective.
According to the government order issued by TANGEDCO on September 15, 2021, the state power minister announced that one lakh agriculture service connections will be provided on fast track to the motor pump sets of the farmer in the state.
Recently, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that farmers have been provided one lakh free electricity connections in less than a year. Farmers said that even though the government has said that those with minimum land holdings – half an acre – are eligible to register for free electricity, digging borewells to irrigate only half an acre will cost lakhs of rupees. “Hence, farmers who have large landholdings are coming forward to use the scheme.
Farmers who can spend a minimum of Rs 3 lakh for a borewell can get a connection,” said PS Masilamani, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayagal Sangam, an affiliate of CPI. “There are some who have been waiting for years for electricity.
The borewells dug by them are full of silt, so they have to spend money to remove the silt. If more than one electric pole is needed, the farmer will have to pay for it. These things can be possible only for people with money,” he said. Masilamani said that in addition to the money to be spent for the set-up, farmers would have to spend up to Rs 50,000 “to work at a faster pace”.
As per the allocation of 2021-22, more than 70% connections were given under the general scheme, which is free. Whereas 25% farmers were given preference under the self-financing scheme, where farmers had to send money ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. He said that the remaining farmers were given connections under the Tatkal scheme, for which they had sent an amount of two lakh to three lakh rupees depending on the motor power they needed.
Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association secretary Swamimalai S Vimalanathan said the scheme has a broad specification that does not work for all regions. “As per the norms laid down by the PWD department, the borewell should be dug 200 meters from the water source. Being a delta region, this rule cannot be applied here. Because water sources and canals cut the fields. Due to this rule many farmers could not apply for the scheme.
The organization is demanding the cancellation of the government order for the Delta region. At least 17,672 electricity connections were provided to farmers in delta districts including 3,115 connections in Trichy district in 2021-22. Going beyond the number of connections provided, the disparities in the plan become apparent. For example, thousands of farmers having agricultural land of less than one acre got electricity connections under the 3A1 tariff scheme.
These farmers mostly cultivate vegetables, flowers and greens. Since these products come under horticulture crops, they are paying up to Rs 25,000 per year as electricity charges. “Though these are small farmers (land wise), they are not offered free power supply. Meanwhile, farmers having large agricultural land enjoy free electricity under the scheme. Therefore, to benefit small farmers, the government should give exemption in electricity bill. Farmers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh get free electricity connections within 30 days of applying. Farmers say that the Tamil Nadu government also needs to expedite this process.
But it doesn’t appear that Tangedco is complicit in the staff shortage. “The workforce available in the department is not sufficient to start the statewide agriculture project. D Kalaiselavan, a farmer from Thanjavur, said it is equally easy to move the pillars on agricultural land due to the paucity of staff. Another issue is the lack of high tension (HT) power cables.
“Earlier we were waiting for a transformer. Now power is not available due to non-availability of HT power cable. Officials cite the Ukraine war as the reason for the lack of HT power cables,” said Kallislavan, for whom electricity to get his water pump set to work is a pipe dream.