Chennai, Tamil Nadu – In a major achievement for Tamil Nadu’s pro-farmer initiatives, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced the successful completion of the 1 lakh free agricultural power connections scheme, which began in September 2021. The announcement came during an event held at TANGEDCO’s Chennai headquarters on Saturday.
At the event, the Chief Minister personally handed over the final service order to P. Kannapillai, a farmer from Ulundurpet — the last beneficiary of this ambitious scheme. Stalin also interacted with one lakh farmers via video conference, applauding the positive impact of free electricity on agricultural productivity.
“It’s truly encouraging to hear farmers say that free electricity has improved their crop output. This scheme, completed with speed and dedication, proves what a committed administration can achieve,” said Stalin.
Key Highlights:
- Scheme launched on September 23, 2021
- Completed on March 23, 2024
- A total of 1 lakh farmers received free power connections
- Covered 2.13 lakh acres of farmland
- Linked 6.3 lakh HP of electrical motors to TANGEDCO’s grid
- ₹803 crore allocated for the project
Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji, MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Energy Secretary Ramesh Chand Meena were present during the event.
Historical Context & Impact
CM Stalin pointed out that:
- Until 1990, farmers paid ₹50–₹75 per HP for electricity.
- In November 1990, former CM M. Karunanidhi introduced free electricity for farmers.
- Between 2006–2011, 2,09,910 free connections were distributed.
- In contrast, from 2011 to 2021, only 2,21,579 connections were provided (avg. 22,100/year).
As of March 31, 2021, 4.52 lakh applications were pending. With this initiative, the total number of agricultural connections in the state has reached 22.8 lakh.
The “Three 23s” Timeline
TANGEDCO Chairman and MD Rajesh Lakhani explained the interesting alignment of the number 23:
- Scheme launched on September 23
- Delayed due to Ukraine war; resumed on February 23
- Successfully completed on March 23
This symbolic alignment highlights the commitment and precise execution of the project.