Question : Beneficiaries Covered under Saubhagya

(a) the number of beneficiaries who have been provided with electrical access under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - Saubhagya in the State of
Odisha, during the last three years and the current year, district-wise;

(b) the quantum of expenditure incurred there under during the said period in the State of Odisha;

(c) whether there is a significant lack of knowledge dissemination with respect to incentives provided under the said yojana and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government faces hurdles inproviding last mile power availability especially in districts like Kandhamal; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken by the Government thereon?

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (e) : The Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Sahaj BijliHar Ghar Yojana – Saubhagya in October, 2017 with the objective of achieving universal household electrification, by providing electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural areas and all poor households in urban areas in the country including State of Odisha. Under the scheme, as on 31.03.2019, Odisha had reported 100% electrification of all the willing un-electrified households in both urban and rural areas including in Kandhawal district.

Specifically under Saubhagya, the state has reported electrification of a total of 9,57,509 household; the district wise breakup of which is enclosed as Annexure.

There was no upfront allocation of funds for any State/District under Saubhagya scheme since then closed as on 31.03.2022. Funds were released for sanctioned projects in installments based on the reported utilization of the amount released in the previous installments and fulfillment of stipulated conditionalities. Year-wise details of funds disbursed to Odisha State under Saubhagya in the last three years is as under:
Rs in Crore
Sanctioned cost Project Closure Cost Grant released and utilized by Odisha State under Saubhagya Scheme
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Total Funds Utilized
525 430 - - 52 52 51

Under the scheme, campaign for mass awareness were launched in the form of movement of special vehicle namely Saubhagya Rath across Districts, door to door campaign, publication in Print and Electronic Media, Organisation of camps in villages / cluster of villages were organized for on-the-spot registration and release of connections. Even after saturation of particular district/village special camps and Saubhagya Raths were planned in areas to ensure electricity connection to each and every willing un-electrified household. In addition, a dedicated 24x7 toll free helplinenumber1800-121-5555 was set up to facilitate any left out un-electrified household under Saubhagya scheme.



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