Ujala scheme fails to brighten ‘dark’ winter in Kashmir valley

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 1

Even as the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (Ujala) scheme was launched with much fanfare here in September, complaints of consumers not being able to procure bulbs despite advance payment are increasing with every passing day.

Locals are complaining that despite making payments at Khidmat centres more than a month back, they are yet to receive the LEDs. “A khidmat centre near our home has been taking advance payment of Rs 110 for more than a month now. Even though my husband visited the centre several times to collect the LEDs, he had to return empty handed,” said Muzamil, a homemaker of the Rawalpora area.

Similar complaints are common from other parts of the Valley as well at a time when the region is dealing with severe power cuts and low voltage. “While power shortage is common in winters, we are also facing the problem of low voltage. Sometimes, the fluorescent tubes do not light up due to low voltage. Therefore, these LEDs would have come in handy these days as these bulbs work even in low voltage. However, whenever I visit a nearby Khidmat centre, I am told the LEDs are out of stock,” said Tariq Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla in north Kashmir.

An owner of a Khidmat centre at Rawlapora admitted that locals had made payments for five bulbs a month and a half back but were yet to receive the LEDs. However, he said they were dependent on supply from Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), which has been tasked to distribute the LEDs.

An executive tasked by the EESL to supply stocks to the Khidmat centres assured that the problem would be resolved in the next two days. “After two days, fresh stock will be available and consumers can take home the LEDs,” he said.

The Ujala scheme had been launched by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here on September 6 under which domestic consumers would be able to buy five high-quality LED bulbs of 9W at a discounted rate of Rs 20 each.