FAQ Saubhagya–“Pradhan mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana”

FAQ Saubhagya–“Pradhan mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana”

Frequently Asked Questions

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Saubhagya – “Pradhan mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana”

Q-1. What is Saubhagya Scheme?

Ans. “Saubhagya” scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September 2017 to ensure electrification of all the willing households in the country in rural and as well as urban areas.

Q-2. What is the objective of this new scheme?

Ans. The objective of the scheme is to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural as well as urban areas.

Q-3. How can I can access Saubhagya web portal?

Ans. The portal can be accessed through web browser on internet via link http://saubhagya.gov.in

Q-4. Who are the eligible beneficiaries of the scheme?

Ans. Under Saubhagya scheme, the government will provide all willing households in rural areas and poor families in urban areas free electricity connections identified using SocioEconomic and Caste Census (SECC) data 2011 having at least one deprivation. The households not found eligible as per SECC data would also be provided electricity connection on payment of Rs. 500 per household which shall be recovered by respective Discom/ Power Departments as per the scheme.

Q-5. How the government plans operationalise this scheme?

Ans. Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) is the nodal agency for the

operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country.

Q-6. How the Government plans to cover the un-electrified households in remote areas ?

Ans. For the un-electrified households located in remote and in-accessible areas, Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) based standalone systems with power packs of 200 to 300 Watt with battery backup, maximum of 5 LED light, 1 DC Fan, 1 DC power plug along with repair and maintenance for 5 years would be provided.

Q-7 What all is included in the last mile connectivity and electricity connection to households?

Ans. The electricity connection to households include provision of service line cable, energy meter including pre-paid/ smart meter, single point wiring, LED lamp and associated accessories in line with technical specifications and construction standards. 

The last mile connectivity includes erection of pole, conductor etc. as may be required for extending service connections to remaining un-electrified households.

Q-8 Will electricity connection would be totally free of cost for every un-electrified households?

Ans. Yes. Free electricity connections to willing households in rural areas and poor families in urban areas, identified using Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data 2011 having at least one deprivation. The households not found eligible as per SECC data would also be provided electricity connection on payment of Rs. 500 per household which shall be recovered by respective Discom/ Power Departments as per the scheme in 10 instalments of Rs. 50 each along with electricity bill.

Q-9 Does the free electricity connection also includes free power for consumption?

Ans. There is no provision in the scheme to provide free power to any category of consumers. The cost of electricity consumption shall have to be paid by the respective consumers as per prevailing tariff of the DISCOM/Power Deptt.

Q-10 What information is available on the Saubhagya Dashboard?

Ans. Saubhagya Dashboard has been designed and developed to disseminate information about the status of Household Electrification such as:

1. Household Electrification Status (As on date)

2. Household Progress w.e.f. 11th Oct 2017

3. Household Electrification Level (pan-India)

4. State Wise Target vs Achievement

5. Monthly Electrification Progress w.e.f. 11 Oct 17

6. Village Electrification Camp Details – providing details of camps organised

and planned in future.

Q-11 The earlier scheme of Government of India ‘24x7 Power For All’ has similar objective? How is it different from this scheme?

Ans. ‘24x7 Power for All’ is a joint initiative with the states which covers all aspects of power sector i.e. Power generation, Transmission, Distribution, Energy Efficiency, Health of Discom etc., Providing connectivity to all households is a prerequisite to ensure 24x7 power supply. Saubhagya is a schematic support to address the issue of energy access.

Q-12 In distribution sector, two major schemes; DDUGJY for rural areas and IPDS in urban areas are already under implementation- then what is the need for a new scheme?

Ans. Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) envisage creation of basic electricity infrastructure in villages / habitations, strengthening & augmentation of existing infrastructure, metering of existing feeders / distribution transformers / consumers to improve quality and reliability of power supply in rural areas.

1. Besides this, last mile connectivity and free electricity connections are also provided to BPL households only identified by the States as per their list. However, in villages which are electrified in past for a long period, many households do not have electricity connections for many reasons.

2. Some of the really poor households do not have BPL cards but these households are not capable of paying applicable initial connection charges. There is also lack of awareness as to how to get connection or taking connection is not an easy task for illiterate people. There may not be electricity pole nearby and the cost of erection of additional pole, conductor is also chargeable from the households for obtaining a connection.

3. Similarly in urban areas, Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) provides for creation of necessary infrastructure to provide electricity access but some households are not yet connected mainly on account of their economic condition as they are not capable of paying the initial connection charges. 

Therefore, Saubhagya has been launched to plug such gaps and comprehensively address the issues of entry barrier, last mile connectivity and release of electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural and urban areas.

Q-13. Is the cost of Saubhagya Scheme over & above the outlay available under DDUGJY?

Ans. Yes, the cost of Saubhagya scheme i.e. Rs. 16,320 crore is over and above the investment being made under DDUGJY.

Q-14. What is the criteria for allocation of funds to the States?

Ans. Projects under the scheme would be sanctioned based on the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to be submitted by the States. There is no upfront allocation of fund under the scheme.

Q-15. How the scheme would be implemented in the entire country?

Ans. Project proposals shall be prepared by the State DISCOMs / Power Deptt. and sanctioned by an inter-ministerial Monitoring Committee headed by Secretary (Power), GOI. 

The electrification works under the sanctioned projects shall be executed by respective DISCOMs/Power Deptt. through turnkey contractors or departmentally or through other suitable agencies capable of doing this work as per norms.

Q-16. What is strategy for achievement of target in a time bound manner?

Ans. In order to hasten the process of release of connections to households:

1. Camps would be organised in villages, cluster of villages for identification of beneficiaries using modern IT technology with a Mobile App / Web Portal.

2. Application for electricity connections shall also be registered electronically and requisite documentation including photograph of applicant, copy of identity card and details such as mobile number, Aadhar number, bank account number etc. shall be completed on spot in the camps, so that connections are released at the earliest.

3. The Gram Panchayat / public institutions in rural areas shall also be authorized to collect application form, complete documentation and also for distribution of bills, collection of revenue and other activities, as applicable.

Q-14. What would be estimated rise in power demand with the inclusion of 4 crore households in the electricity network?

Ans. Considering an average load of 1 KW per household and average uses of load for 8 hours in a day, there will be requirement of additional power of about 28,000 MW and additional energy of about 80,000 million units per annum. This is a dynamic figure. With the enhancement of income and habit of using electricity, the demand of electricity is bound to vary. This figure will also vary if the assumptions are changed.

Q-16. How many un-electrified households would be covered under Saubhagya?

Ans. There are about 4 crore un-electrified households estimated in the country of which about 1 crore BPL households in rural areas are already covered under sanctioned projects of DDUGJY. Thus, total of 300 lakh households, 250 lakh households in rural areas and 50 lakh in urban areas, are expected to be covered under the scheme.

Q-17 Would the Scheme envisages providing amnesty to illegal consumers to come and register? Is that also something the Scheme targets?

Ans. The illegal connections need to be dealt with by the respective DISCOMs/Power Deptt in accordance with their rules/regulations in this regard. However, the scheme categorically provides that the defaulters whose connections have been disconnected shall not be given benefit of the scheme.

Q-18 In what manner, the Saubhagya Scheme would be useful for people in their daily life?

Ans. Access to electricity definitely has positive impact on quality of life of people in all aspects of daily household chores and human development.

1. Access to electricity would substitute use of Kerosene for lighting purposes resulting in reduction in indoor pollution thereby saving people from health hazards. 

2. Electricity access would help in establishing efficient and modern health services in all parts of the country. Lighting after the sunset also provide a sense of enhanced personal safety especially for women and increase in post sunset social as well as economic activities.

3. Availability of electricity will boost education services across all areas and quality lighting post sunset would facilitate children to spend more time on studies and move ahead further in prospective careers.

4. Household electrification also increases the likelihood that women would study and earn income.

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