Coimbatore tailor says 'no' to free power, wants to donate it to needy

Taking a cue from "say no to LPG subsidy", a tailor from the city has come forward to "give away" the 100 units of free power to someone in need.

"I thank the state government for the scheme. But, I earn enough money to pay the electricity bill. Instead, the government can give this electricity to someone else,'' said 'Best' Muthukumaraswamy, who runs his tailoring shop at rural Chinniyampalayam.

Father of two, Muthukumaraswamy says he consumes 100 to 150 units of electricity every two months. '"I earn 500 a day. Paying the electricity bill for 150 units is not a big burden for me. But, so many people either have no access to electricity or no means to pay for it. So I wanted this free power to go to such people,'' he said.

Muthukumaraswamy says that the idea to give up free power struck him the day chief minister J Jayalalithaa signed the order after assuming charge on May 23. "I am not saying the scheme is unnecessary. In fact, I'm a beneficiary for free mixie, grinder and fan scheme. But people who can afford to bear the expenses should come forward to reduce the burden on the government by paying the electricity bill,'' he said.

He also urged the government to work out a mechanism to accept payment from people like him for the 100 units of electricity.

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