In Saubhagya Yojna, Free Electricity Connections To 4 Crore Rural Households: All You Need To Know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a Rs 16,320-crore scheme - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana 'Saubhagya' - to provide electricity connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018. Photo: PIB

"Rs 16,000 crore will be spent to bring a monumental change in the lives of the poor," Modi said while launching the 'Saubhagya' scheme. The prime minister regretted that even after 70 years of independence 4 crore out of 25 crore families did not have access to power. Photo: PIB

Under the scheme, the government proposes to provide electricity to all households by December 2018, ahead of the earlier target of March, 2019. Photo: PIB

All villages would be electrified by December this year ahead of the scheduled deadline of May 1, 2018. The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data. Photo: PIB

However, it said that un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill. Photo: PTI

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. Photo: PTI

Beneficiaries shall be identified and their application for electricity connection along with applicant photograph and identity proof shall be registered on spot, the statement said. Photo: AP

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. Photo: PTI

The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country. The Centre will provide largely funds for the scheme to all States/UTs. Photo: AFP

According to GARV portal, out of the 18,452 villages, 14,483 villages have been electrified so far. The electrification work is in progress on 2981 villages while 988 villages are uninhabited. The portal also indicates that out of the 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. Photo: PTI