15 Indian states attains 100% household electrification under SAUBHAGYA Program

As per the government, 15 states in India have attained 100 percent household electrification under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna (SAUBHAGYA) program so far.

The program began in 2017 with a project outlay of Rs.163.2 billion ($2.5 billion) and Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs.123.2 billion ($1.89 billion).

The eight new states that have joined the list of 100 percent household electrification are Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Sikkim, Telangana, and West Bengal.

Other states like Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have a small number of unelectrified households and are projected to achieve 100 percent household electrification soon, as per Power Minister R.K. Singh.

As many as 21 million connections have been released under SAUBHAGYA so far. The target of 100 percent electrification is estimated to be accomplished by December 31, 2018.

“Accomplishment of 100 percent household electrification in the country would be a key milestone in the direction to attain 24×7 power for all. The government is devoted to guarantee 24×7 access to electricity for all by March 31, 2019”, Power Minister R.K. Singh said.

Recently, the government announced that it has instituted an award of more than Rs.3 billion ($42.95 million) to be won by states/DISCOMs.

The first DISCOM/Power Department to complete 100 percent household electrification will be awarded Rs.5 million ($71,680) for the employees and Rs.1 billion ($ 14.31 million) grant to be spent for distribution infrastructure.