Manish Tewari, the Member of Parliament representing Chandigarh, has called on the Chandigarh administration to implement a targeted welfare scheme aimed at assisting low-income households. The proposal includes offering 300 units of free electricity and 20,000 litres of free water per month to families earning below ₹20,000. Tewari's advocacy stems from his observations of increasing distress among urban poor and lower middle-class families, particularly in light of rising food prices and living costs. He noted that many residents are struggling to meet lease rentals and facing penalties due to financial strain. The MP highlighted that the privatization of electricity distribution in February 2023 has resulted in significant savings, creating a fiscal space of ₹856.01 crore that could be utilized for subsidizing electricity. He recommended that the administration pursue ₹856-1,000 crore through supplementary grants to reimburse the Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), drawing parallels with similar models in Delhi and Punjab. Additionally, he estimated that providing free water would cost the Municipal Corporation around ₹15-20 crore, a feasible amount for the local government to manage.