91,194 Tribal Households Electrified Under RDSS Scheme: Minister

91,194 PVTG Household Electrified Under RDSS Scheme, Says Minister

The latest data shared by Shripad Naik, Minister of State (MoS) for New and Renewable Energy, revealed that 91,194 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) households have been electrified to date under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). This data includes the electrification of households under the state plan in three states, namely Gujarat, Odisha, and West Bengal.

The Union government is supporting states in grid electrification of all identified households belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) under PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan). The government has sanctioned works amounting to ₹516 crore to electrify 1,29,269 left-out PVTG households.

The minister, in a written reply, said, “Further, under the New Solar Power Scheme, works worth ₹49 crore have been sanctioned for off-grid solar-based electrification for 9,863 PVTG households.”

Ladakh’s 13 GW Solar Dream Alive, Rs. 1,080 Cr Awarded For RDSS: Power Minister

Also Read

As per the shared data, the maximum number of households were electrified in Andhra Pradesh (24,327) out of the sanctioned 25,054 households. Rajasthan also electrified 15,667 out of the sanctioned 17,633 households. Maharashtra saw the installation of 8,556 households out of the sanctioned 9,216 projects. On the other hand, states like Uttarakhand have achieved their goal of electrifying 669 households, and Telangana electrifying 3,884 households. Chhattisgarh also comes close to achieving its target of electrifying 7,077 households with the electrification of 4,323 households.

Whereas, Bihar has not seen any installation to date. On the other hand, Kerala has come close to achieving its goals with the installation of 309 projects out of the sanctioned 345 projects. Jharkhand also lags with the electrification of only 62 out of 12,442 out of the sanctioned, and Tripura with 6,001 electrifications out of 11,664  sanctioned.

Benefits of Off-Grid Electrification

Explaining the benefits of off-grid electrification, the minister said, “It has a significant impact on the general population in several ways. Electrification of households, particularly those in remote and tribal areas, has a positive impact on business and employment opportunities, educational achievements, and agricultural production. Further, electrification of villages, including remote areas, contributes towards an increase in per capita consumption of a state, signifying improved living standards.”

PM Surya Ghar: MNRE Clarifies On CFA Aid To Housing Societies

Also Read

The minister said in a written reply, “The government of India is taking all necessary steps to support states for the electrification of all PVTG households. Since most of the left-out areas are in remote, hilly, and forest areas, the norms for electrification under RDSS were relaxed, and the ceiling limit for the cost of electrification was enhanced.”

He added, “The grid-based electrification works have been sanctioned under RDSS wherever found feasible as per the revised norms. For the remaining areas, off-grid solar-based electrification works have been sanctioned. Further, for the sanctioned works, regular monitoring is being done to resolve issues, if any, and expedite implementation.”