The scheme will cost in excess of Rs 16,000 crore.
PM Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana 'Saubhagya'. The ambitious scheme as the name suggests plans to give electricity to all the households in India by December 2018. The scheme if properly implemented can be a major game changer and help in PM Modi's re-election bid in 2019. PM after launching the scheme also said that wellbeing of the poor and trying to improve their life is top of their agenda.
Here are some of the salient features and big numbers pertaining to the scheme.
1. Aims to provide electric connection to 4 crore families in rural and urban India by December 2018
2. The initial target was to complete the scheme by March 2019. It has been revised now
3. The scheme will cost Rs 16,320 crore while the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs 12,320 crore.
4. The outlay for the rural households is Rs 14,025 crore while the GBS is Rs 10,587.50 crore. For the urban households the outlay is Rs 2,295 crore while GBS is Rs 1,732.50 crore.
5. The Centre will be providing funds to the states and union territories.
6. Families eligible for free electricity connection would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
7. Rest can avail the scheme on payment of Rs 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.
8. The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug.
9. Camps will be done in villages for spot registration of beneficiaries.
10. The Gram Panchayat/Public institutions in the rural areas may be authorised to collect application forms along with complete documentation, distribute bills and collect revenue in consultation with the Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
11. The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme.
According to government data, among 17.92 crore households in rural areas, 13.87 crore families have got electricity connections. As many as 4.05 crore families are yet to be provided electricity connections.
The government is looking to provide electricity to all villages of the country by the end of the year.
With PTI inputs
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