Saubhagya scheme launched to electrify all rural and urban households

The government of India has launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) to electrify all rural and urban households by December 31, 2018 using solar power. The Rural Electrification Corporation is the nodal agency for implementing the programme. Under this, 200-300 W solar power packs comprising battery banks, five LED lights, one DC fan and one DC power plug will be provided by the government with repair and maintenance for five years. The outlay for rural households is Rs 140.25 billion while the gross budgetary support (GBS) allocated is Rs 105.875 billion. Meanwhile, for urban households, the outlay is Rs 22.95 billion and the allocated gross budgetary support is Rs 17.325 billion. In addition, unelectrified households not covered under the socio-economic and caste census would be provided electricity connections at Rs 500 per household.