Q+A: Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya)

Central Government of India has introduced an initiative called Saubhagya to fulfill the dreams of
millions in rural as well as urban areas who live in the dark without electricity. This initiative focuses on
taking care of that to achieve universal electrification in the country. There are certain inaccessibly
remote areas, where installation of grid lines extension is not feasible, and for such houses, solar power
pack and battery will be provided. Under this scheme, poor houses without electricity connections will
pay nothing for the electricity provided to them. However, other households will pay Rs 500 to power
distribution companies in installments of 10 along with their respective electricity bills. The main feature
to be noted here is that, although the connections that free people receive are free of cost for them, the
cost of electricity will be deducted from the pockets of consumers, and the scheme does not have any
provision for free electricity.

How is Saubhagya different from existing initiatives for the power sector?
This can be answered in two categories:

How Saubhagya is different from 24X7 Power for all initiative?

247 Power for All initiative deals with everything related to power, including its generation,
transmission, distribution, energy efficiency, the financial health of distribution companies, etc. State/UT
specific ensures 24X7 power for all. But if rural homes persist without getting their fair share of

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electriciity, the goal of 24X7 will be elusive. Here is where Central government's initiative Saubhagya
plays its role of addressing issues related to energy access.

How it is different from DDUGJY and IPDS

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana has a definite objective of ensuring that every infrastructure in
rural India receives the basic amount of electricity that they are entitled to. It will also cater to
increasing the existing infrastructure and the metering of it to improve quality and reliability of power
supply. Similarly, Integrated Power Development Scheme ensure that then urban areas have the
necessary infrastructure. However, both rural and urban areas have houses that remain in the dark
despite having essential infrastructure mainly due to the poor economic conditions which abstain them
from enjoying what they should, all because they cannot pay for the initial charges of setting up a
connection. Soubhagya initiative will provide electricity connections to un-electrified houses in rural and
urban areas.

What will be the implementation mechanism?

The whole power supply chain will have power distribution companies working on project proposals,
and after they get sanctioned, distribution companies will take over and execute the project. To speed
up the implementation of the project, technology will be put to use for the identification of the
beneficiaries. Also, public institutions like gram panchayat will be assigned the duty of collecting
application forms, as well as revenue.

How will the initiative be useful for daily life?

Living standards will rise, and life will be made easier for people by making electricity available to them.
It would also lead to declining rates of pollution as the use of Kerosene will also reduce. Power should
be made available to all as it is necessary for modern health service and economic development.

How the initiative will lead to employment generation and subsequently economic
development

Once every house attains its basic share of electricity, use of kerosene for lighting
purpose would stop, and this will have an advantageous reform over various industries
and benefits like reducing the subsidy burden and decline in the imports of petroleum
products. Since electricity is the base infrastructure for communication services, every
house can then access kinds of communications like Radio, Television, Internet, mobile,
etc. This will help in making rural people aware of various reforms initiated by the
government in their favor like new agricultural techniques, seed quality, market prices,
etc. which will further help in improving their agricultural production and provide better
conditions for their livelihood. Once connected with electricity, farmers can explore and

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avail of various possibilities such as agro-based small industries. Electricity facility will
also aid in the evolvement of local industry which will generate more direct and indirect
employment opportunities.

Discussion
People are oblivious to various government schemes which are beneficial for them, and that's one of the
primary reasons why progress on household electrification is slow. To overcome this shortcoming,
Government is trying to make the general public in these areas aware through Radio, Print Media,
Television, Sign Boards, etc. The distribution companies are also playing a vital role in spreading
awareness by organizing camps in rural areas which will involve School teachers, Gram Panchayat
members, local literate/educated youth. Everything is planned to perfection but the key still lies in the
implementation of the project which will not only help the economic development but also provide
people with better living conditions.

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