The President of India has granted approval to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the execution of a new solar power initiative. This programme, with a budget of Rs 5.15 billion is designated for habitations and villages of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN). The objective of the initiative is to provide electricity to 100,000 households belonging to PVTG in regions where grid-based electricity supply is not considered technologically and economically viable. This will be achieved through the installation of 0.3 kW offgrid solar power systems. Each household will receive financial assistance of either Rs 50,000 or the actual cost of the system, whichever is lower.
Additionally, the initiative also involves arrangements for solar lighting in 1,500 multi-purpose centers located in PVTG areas where grid-based electricity is not accessible. The government is set to allocate Rs 100,000 per multi-purpose center, with a designated budget of Rs 150 million for this programme.
The programme will take effect during the fiscal years 2023-24 through 2025-26. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has identified PVTG areas (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Andaman and Nicobar). The programme’s funding will be derived from the MNRE’s development action plan for scheduled tribes, with disbursements planned over three years: Rs 200 million in 2023-24, Rs 2.55 billion in 2024-25, and Rs 2.4 billion in 2025-26. A distinct budgetary allocation PM JANMAN has been established for this specific purpose.
