SAUBHAGYA Scheme: UPSC Daily Important topic | 24 June 2023

SAUBHAGYA Scheme

Progress till now

•82 crore households have been electrified since the launch of SAUBHAGYA till March, 2021.

Feature

✅The Saubhagya is a scheme to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.

✅The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) is the nodal agency for the operationalization of the scheme throughout the country.

Objective

✅To provide energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas

✅To achieve universal household electrification in the country

Beneficiaries of the project

✅The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.

✅However, 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 installments through electricity bill.

✅The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug.

✅It also includes Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.

Implementation process

✅For the easy and accelerated implementation of the Scheme, modern technology shall be used for household surveys by using Mobile App.

✅Beneficiaries shall be identified and their application for electricity connection along with applicant photograph and identity proof shall be registered on spot.

✅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.