One aspect where Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves recognition is his strictness when it comes to spending money. The government of Gujarat, under his leadership, has been known to resist the temptation of asking for financial aid from the central government, even during tough times. This strict approach to financial management is a testament to the government's commitment to not pilfer money from the pockets of its citizens.
However, it is important to consider new ways of reducing poverty that do not involve excessively burdening the people with taxes. It appears that the government's tendency to tax and impose levies on citizens' income has become a worrisome trend.
The introduction of GST was touted as a game-changer for the country, with the promise of a unified tax system. However, it seems that the government has been finding ways to impose additional taxes on citizens under the guise of GST. Recently, the government launched a program that was met with objections from several states. The program aims to levy additional charges on electricity usage during peak demand hours.
The idea of imposing up to 20% extra charges on electricity usage during peak hours has left many people shocked. It is worth noting that a similar dynamic pricing system is already in place for train and plane tickets. The Modi government has now released a draft proposing the implementation of a dynamic pricing system for electricity usage across the country. The government has reached out to the states to seek their feedback before April 14. The peak demand times are said to be between 6-10 in the morning and 5-9 in the evening. During these times, electricity is bought in the open market at high prices, which is why the government is considering passing on this burden to the citizens.
Under this proposed system, citizens will be charged an additional 20% for electricity consumption during peak hours. The installation of smart meters will allow for the monitoring of electricity usage during peak hours, making it easier to calculate the additional charges to be levied on the electricity bill. But it is also important to ensure that such solutions do not unduly burden the people.
