Saubhagya scheme sees electrification in 2.82 crore households

Context

As many as 2.82 crore families got electricity connection under the flagship Saubhagya Scheme, as per the data provided by the Ministry of Power on the completion of four years of the scheme.

Key highlights

• 82 crore households have been electrified since the launch of Saubhagya.
• As of March 2019, 2.63 crore willing un-electrified households in rural and urban areas of the country were provided electricity connections in a record time of 18 months.
• Subsequently, seven states Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh reported that around 18.85 lakh un-electrified households, identified before March 31, 2019, which were unwilling earlier, but later expressed their willingness to get electricity connections, were also covered under the scheme.

About the Scheme

• This scheme was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 25, 2017 to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.
• Saubhagya is one of the largest household electrification drives in the world.
• The scheme was achieving 'Universal Household Electrification' in the country, through last-mile connectivity and providing access to electricity to all un-electrified households in rural areas and poor households in urban areas.
• The focus of the scheme was on strengthening and augmentation of the existing infrastructure and metering of existing feeders/distribution transformers to improve the quality and reliability of power supply in rural areas.
• While the set objectives of the scheme have been achieved, team SAUBHAGYA has continued its work of providing 24x7 quality power supply to all. 

Expected outcome of the Scheme

• Environmental upgradation by substitution of Kerosene for lighting purposes
• Improvement education services
• Better health services
• Enhanced connectivity through radio, television, mobiles, etc
• Increased economic activities and jobs
• Improved quality of life especially for women

Related schemes

• Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)
• PM-KUSUM
• Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)
• Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY)
• GARV (Grameen Vidyutikaran) App