Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya” – a new scheme was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas on 25th September, 2017.

The objective of the ‘Saubhagya’ is to provide energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification in the country.

The electricity connection to households include release of electricity connections by drawing a service cable from the nearest electricity pole to the household premise, installation of energy meter, wiring for a single light point with LED bulb and a mobile charging point.

In case the electricity pole is not available nearby from household for drawing service cable, the erection of additional pole along with conductor and associated accessories shall also be covered under the scheme.

Poor households would be provided electricity connections free of cost. Other households would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs500 only which shall be recovered by the DISCOMs/Power Departments in ten (10) instalments along with electricity bills.

The cost of electricity consumption shall have to be paid by the respective consumers as per prevailing tariff. Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) envisage creation of basic electricity infrastructure in villages / habitations, strengthening and augmentation of existing infrastructure, metering of existing feeders / distribution transformers / consumers to improve quality and reliability of power supply in rural areas.

Besides this, last mile connectivity and free electricity connections are also provided to BPL households only identified by the States as per their list. However, in villages which are electrified in past for a long period, many households do not have electricity connections for many reasons.

Similarly in urban areas, Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) provides for creation of necessary infrastructure to provide electricity access but some households are not yet connected mainly on account of their economic condition as they are not capable of paying the initial connection charges. Hence, the need for a scheme like Soubhagya.