UPSC IAS Prelims Exam 2019 Important Govt Schemes
It was launched in September 2017 with the objective to provide access to electricity to all the remaining households in the country. The scheme primarily benefits rural areas, which have vast majority of households without power connections.
It is being funded to extent of 60% by central grants, 30% by bank loans and 10% by states. Under it, free electricity connections are provided to below poverty line (BPL) households, while other households have to pay 500 rupees for the connection.
- To identify beneficiaries for free electricity connections, the government will use Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
- The beneficiary household will get five LED lights, one DC fan, one DC power plug. It also includes the Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.
- To ensure on-the-spot registration, mobile applications will be used.
- Gram Panchayat and public institutions in rural areas will be authorised to carry out billing and collection tasks.
- There will be no subsidy component for monthly electricity consumption.
8 States have achieved 100% household electrification under Saubhagya namely Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar, J&K, Mizoram, Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal. Total 15 States now have 100 % household electrification.