Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday renewed his appeal to financially well-off families and income taxpayers to voluntarily give up the benefit of 125 units of free electricity, news agency PTI reported. He said the state government would launch a campaign on December 1 to encourage people to surrender the benefit.Choudhary made the announcement while visiting slum areas in Patna to celebrate Diwali with underprivileged communities.

He also distributed sweets among residents and said festivals should include every section of society.At a youth parliament in Patna last week, the CM had said the state government spent about Rs 23,000 crore annually on electricity subsidies.He appealed to affluent families to give up the free power benefit so that resources could instead be channelled towards development. "Under this campaign, people will be encouraged to voluntarily give up subsidy benefits. Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to people to surrender their LPG subsidies, we are making a similar appeal," Choudhary told reporters, according to PTI.He said the government provided electricity subsidies worth about Rs 10,000 annually to each family.

Those who voluntarily surrendered the benefit would be recognised for their contribution, he added. The Bihar CM said he had also appealed to public representatives and administrative officials to visit tribal areas and meet members of Dalit and other extremely backward communities to celebrate Diwali with them."Officials should share both their joys and sorrows and become a part of their lives.

Festivals should be celebrated by everyone, and nobody should be left out. That is why I have come here personally as well," he said.CHOUDHARY PRAISES PM MODI'S DIWALI WITH JAWANSChoudhary also praised PM Modi for celebrating Diwali with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar, which was once considered the hotbed of Naxalism."PM Modi has often stood alongside soldiers at the borders, and today, under his leadership, the country has become Naxal-free," he said.The Chief Minister further said PM Modi would visit Bihar on November 21 and was expected to announce several development and infrastructure projects.- Ends(With PTI inputs)