738 villages to get power facilities thanks to lighting scheme

Kohima, April 20 (EMN): An estimated 738 villages comprising 66,766 households in the rural areas and 24,566 households in the urban areas in Nagaland will be given electricity though the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana-Saubhagya scheme.

Saubhagya is a scheme of the government of India to ensure electricity to all households in the country in rural as well as urban areas to achieve household ‘electrification.’ The scheme aims to create a ‘last mile connectivity’ to households and provide electricity connections to all ‘willing un-electrified households in rural and urban areas.’

The scheme is also a part of the Gram Swaraj Abhijan which was launched by the government of India during April 14 to May 5.

During a programme organised by the department of Power, the scheme was launched by advisor for Power H Tovihoto Ayemi. Bijay Kumar Mohanty, representative from the Rural Electrification Corporation at Kolkatta was among those attending the event. The programme was held in the conference hall of the Electricity House at Kohima on April 20.

Commissioner-secretary KD Vizo has informed that only 66.766 rural households were proposed to be covered by the Saubhagya programme in a total of 2,81,811 rural households in the state. 1,93,502 rural households are already connected with electricity and 21,543 rural households are already covered by another scheme called the Deendaya Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).

Likewise, he said 24,566 urban households were proposed to be covered by the Saubhagya scheme in a total of 1,43,077 urban households in the state as 1,18,511 urban households are already with electricity.

States and union territories in the country are required to complete the household electrification work by March 31 2019. The project, information says, will be monitored by the Rural Electrification Corporation.

Terming it a massive task for the department of Power to undertake in 738 villages, Vizo maintained that the poor in the rural areas would greatly benefit from the scheme. He informed that electricity connection would be released only after due verification of essential documents such as voter ID, passport, driving license, ration card, Aadhar etc., for proof of identity. He added that the facilities would be provided only through single-point wiring with provisions for LED bulb, mobile charging points, and switches.

Also, Chief Engineer (D&R) Khose Sale has urged the department to be ready to take the challenge and implement the scheme ‘with a sense of mission and sincerity so that the people of the state would find benefits through the scheme.’

Features of scheme:
• No upfront fee for availing electricity connection.
• Absolutely free for poor households. Other households to pay 10 easy instalment of INR 50 each only along with regular electricity bill.
• Camps would also be organised in villages by the power department officials for providing electricity connections.
• On the spot completion of application and documentation by the officials.

How to avail:
• Visit nearby camp or power department office and ask for electricity connection.
• Power department officials would complete documentation.
• Households to provide personal details like name, address, mobile number etc.
• Any available identity proof – aadhar number/voter ID/driving license/bank account.
• Connections would be provided after verification of requisite information.