Question : Access to Electricity

(a) whether over 300 million people in the country do not have access to the electricity grid and are living in complete darkness and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;

(b) whether they live using kerosene lanterns which are extremely harmful to health and often result in huge losses of life and property due to fires and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps being taken in this regard; and

(c) the steps being taken by the Government to provide electricity to all in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER
AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI R. K. SINGH )

(a) & (b) : Access to electricity has a positive impact on the quality of life of people as well as economic development. Keeping this aspect in view, Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana –“Saubhagya” with the objective to achieve universal household electrification by providing electricity connections to all households in rural and all poor households in urban areas by March, 2019. As informed by the States, there are 21.73 crore households in the country; of these 20.79 crore households were electrified as on 30.11.2018. Under Saubhagya, Government of India gives funds to the States to the extent of 60% (85% for special category states) as grant for reaching electricity to every household. An additional grant of 15% (5% for special category states) is also available subject to achievement of 100% household electrification of all willing households by 31st December, 2018.

(c) : Government of India have taken a joint initiative with all the States/UTs for preparation of State specific documents for providing 24x7 power supply to all households, industrial & commercial consumers and adequate supply of power to agricultural consumers as per State policy. All the State Governments and Union Territories have signed the “24X7 Power For All” document to provide electricity to all from 1st April, 2019. Government of India supplements the efforts of States through its various schemes including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – Saubhagya and Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) .

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