Electrification measures

Why is in news? Implementation of household electrification under Saubhagya and RDSS

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana:

The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy has informed that the Government of India launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) in December, 2014 for various rural electrification works including separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders, strengthening and augmentation of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure, metering at distribution transformers/feeders/consumers and electrification of villages across the country.

Works under the scheme has been completed and the scheme stands closed.

As reported by the States, all the inhabited un-electrified census villages in the country were electrified by 28th April, 2018. A total of 18,374 villages were electrified during the scheme.

Saubhagya:

Subsequently, Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – Saubhagya in October, 2017 with the objective to achieve universal household electrification for providing electricity connections to all willing un-electrified households in rural areas and all willing poor households in urban areas in the country.

Since the launch of Saubhagya scheme, as on 31.03.2021 all the States have reported 100% electrification of all the willing un- electrified households, identified before 31.03.2019.

As reported by the States, 2.817 crore households have been electrified since the launch of Saubhagya, up to 31.03.2021. Further, a total of 4.43 lakh additional households have been electrified under DDUGJY.

As such, as on 31.03.2022, a total of 2.86 crore households (including tribal households) have been electrified since the launch of Saubhagya. The scheme stands closed.

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme:

The construction of new households is a dynamic and continuous process. The Central Government in line with its commitment, is further supporting States under the ongoing Scheme of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for electrification of any left-out households, which existed before 31.03.2019 (period of execution of SAUBHAGYA) but were somehow missed out by the DISCOMs.

Till date, the approval has been accorded for around 4.96 Lakh left-out households for electrification for the States of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

PM-JANMAN:

In addition, all identified beneficiary Households of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) across States under PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) are eligible for funding under RDSS as per guidelines.

As reported by the States, all the inhabited un-electrified census villages (including tribal villages) in the country were electrified by 28th April, 2018. A total of 18,374 villages were electrified during DDUGJY.

There is no categorization specifically for Tribal areas with regard to electrification of census villages.

There is no bifurcation of tribal people and the electricity connections were provided to all the households, including BPL category households, as the Scheme provided universal access of electricity to all the households across the country.