Saubhagya Yojana: Electricity in every home, light in every life

Saubhagya Yojana : In a vast and diverse country like India, electricity is still a dream for many families. Even after 75 years of independence, people in many rural and urban areas are forced to live in darkness. Understanding this problem, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, popularly known as Saubhagya Yojana, on 25 September 2017. The aim of this scheme is to provide electricity to every household in the country and improve the lives of the people. Let us know in detail about this scheme, what it is, what is its goal, and how it is proving to be helpful for the common people.

Table of Contents

What is Saubhagya Yojana?

Saubhagya Yojana is an important initiative of the Government of India, which aims to provide electricity to every household in the country that does not have an electricity connection yet. This scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the birth centenary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Its full name is Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, and its goal is to ensure access to electricity in both rural and urban areas.

Under this scheme, free electricity connections are given especially to economically weaker families. Families whose names are included in the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) get electricity connection without any charge. At the same time, those whose names are not in this census can also get a connection by paying just Rs 500, which can be paid in 10 easy monthly installments along with the electricity bill.

Objective of the scheme

The main objective of the Saubhagya scheme is universal electrification, i.e. providing electricity to every household in the country. The government believes that electricity is not just a means of light, but it is the basis of education, health, and economic development. Some of the main objectives of this scheme are:

Electricity to every home: To provide electricity connections to all the houses in rural and urban areas where electricity is not yet available.
Improvement in quality of life: Availability of electricity will make people’s daily routine easier, children will be able to study at night, and household work will become easier.
Boost economic growth: Access to electricity will boost small businesses, thereby increasing employment opportunities.
Use of clean energy: In areas where grid access to electricity is not possible, solar energy-based systems (solar photovoltaic) will be provided.
Kerosene alternative: Protecting the environment and health by promoting electricity instead of kerosene lamps.

Key features of the scheme

To implement the Saubhagya scheme, the government has taken several systematic steps to ensure that electricity reaches every needy person. Some of its special features are as follows:

1. Free electricity connection

Free electricity connection is given to poor families selected on the basis of the socio-economic census of 2011. This is a big relief for those who were unable to get electricity connection due to financial constraints.

2. Connection for Rs 500

Families whose names are not in the census can get a connection by paying Rs 500. This amount can be paid in 10 installments along with the electricity bill, so that there is no financial burden on the people.

3. Solar Power Pack

In such remote and inaccessible areas, where it is not possible to provide electricity grid, the government provides solar power packs. This includes 5 LED bulbs, a fan, and a DC power plug. Along with this, battery and system maintenance facility is also provided for 5 years.

4. Easy application process

To avail the benefits of the scheme, the government has kept the application process very simple. Special camps are organized in villages to provide electricity connections, where people can apply on the spot. Apart from this, the facility of online application is also available.

5. Nodal Agency

Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) has been made the nodal agency for the implementation of this scheme. This agency monitors the progress of the scheme and works in coordination with the states.

6. Budget and Financial Aid

A total budget of Rs 16,320 crore has been set for the scheme, out of which Rs 12,320 crore has been given by the central government as Gross Budgetary Support (GBS). Rs 14,025 crore has been allocated for rural areas and Rs 1,732.50 crore for urban areas.

Progress and Achievements of the Scheme

It has been several years now since the Saubhagya scheme was launched, and it has made remarkable progress in the field of electrification in the country. Some of the major achievements are as follows:

Achievement till 31st March 2019: The government provided electricity connections to 262.84 lakh households till 31st March 2019. This was a huge target achieved in 18 months. Except for 18,374 households in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, all the states in the country declared 100% household electrification.
Additional connections: On the request of seven states (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh), extension was given to provide electricity connections to 19.09 lakh additional households. Out of these, electricity has been provided to 18.85 lakh households.
Progress in Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh, a target was set to provide connections to 45 lakh non-electrified households under this scheme. 5,000 new connections were initiated in Rewa district.
Use of solar energy: In areas where it was not possible to supply grid electricity, electricity was supplied through solar power packs. This also benefited the environment.

How to avail the benefit of the scheme?

It is very easy to avail the Saubhagya Yojana. If your house is still deprived of electricity, you can apply in the following ways:

Online Application:
Visit the official website.
.Fill in the required information there, like name, address, and Aadhaar number.
After submitting the application, the electricity department will verify your application and provide the connection.
Offline Application:
Go to your nearest electricity department office.
Take the Saubhagya Yojana application form and fill it correctly.
Submit the required documents like Aadhaar card, ration card, or other identity proof along with it.
After verification you will get the connection.
Through Camps:
The government organizes camps in villages from time to time, where applications are accepted on the spot. Electricity department employees will help you in these camps.

Eligibility Criteria

To avail the benefits of Saubhagya Yojana, some conditions have to be fulfilled:

The applicant must be a citizen of India.
The name of the family should be in the Socio-Economic Census 2011 (for free connection).
Those who already have electricity connection will not be eligible for this scheme.
Families with monthly income more than Rs 10,000, income tax payers, or those who have facilities like TV, fridge, motorbike will be deprived of the benefits of this scheme.

Benefits of the scheme

Saubhagya Yojana has not only brought light to homes but has also brought many positive changes in the lives of people. Some of the major benefits are as follows:

Improvement in education: Availability of electricity allows children to study at night, which has improved their level of education.
Increase in health services: Electricity has led to better facilities being available in hospitals and health centres.
Economic Development: Small businesses, such as sewing machines, shops, or other cottage industries have been boosted by electricity.
Empowerment of Women: Electricity has made household work easier and improved the standard of living of women.

Challenges and the way forward

Although the Saubhagya Yojana has illuminated millions of homes, some challenges still remain. It is still difficult to provide electricity to remote and Naxal-affected areas. Apart from this, keeping the power supply regular and uninterrupted is also a challenge. The government is continuously working to solve these problems.

In the future, the impact of Saubhagya Yojana will increase further, as it is promoting clean and affordable energy in conjunction with other programs like PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. By combining solar energy and grid electricity, India is moving towards energy self-sufficiency.

Conclusion

Saubhagya Yojana is an initiative of the Government of India that has brought light into the lives of millions of families. This scheme is not only a means of providing electricity, but it is also the basis of education, health, and economic development. If electricity has not reached your home yet, then definitely take advantage of this scheme. It is the government’s endeavor to illuminate every corner of the country and make every citizen’s life empowered and prosperous.If you have any questions or need help with the application, contact your nearest electricity department. Let’s build a bright India together with this scheme!