India likely to achieve 100% household electrification by month-end; 2.44 cr households get power connections under Saubhagya scheme

New Delhi: India is all set to achieve 100 percent household electrification by the month-end, with 2.44 crore families having received power connections out of the targeted 2.48 crore under the Rs 16,320 crore Saubhagya scheme, an official said. The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) was launched in September 2017. “The 100 percent household electrification under Saubhagya will be achieved by month-end. The government has energised 2.44 crore households under the scheme till today,” the official said. “Around 30,000 families are being provided electricity connection everyday. Therefore, the remaining around four lakh households could be energised by the end of this month itself,” the official added. [caption id=“attachment_3931895” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. Reuters.[/caption] Achieving 100 percent household electrification was one of the aims of the present government. However, it could not meet the self-imposed deadline of December 2018 for the scheme. At a meeting of state power ministers, chaired by Union Power Minister R K Singh in Shimla in July 2018, it was resolved to complete the task of energising all households by 31 December 2018, against the original deadline of 31 March 2019 provided under the Saubhagya scheme. As per the official, the speed of work slowed down in some states due to elections and Maoist problems, while there were some contractual issues as well in a few states. According to the Saubhagya portal, about 3.58 lakh households are left to be electrified in four states—Assam (1,63,016), Rajasthan (88,219), Meghalaya (86,317) and Chhattisgarh (20,293). The Saubhagya scheme envisages providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining households in rural as well as urban areas.     To keep watching India’s No. 1 English Business News Channel – CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News – CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day.