Installation of Solar Light in Rural/Backward Areas

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has been implementing Remote Village Electrification (RVE) Programme for providing financial support for lighting/basic electrification in those remote unelectrified census villages and unelectrified hamlets of electrified census villages including Scheduled Tribes dominated areas where grid extension is not found feasible by the State Governments and hence are not covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY).

 The scheme is based on proposal submitted by states for coverage of left out villages/hamlets from the RGGVY Scheme of Ministry of Power; therefore, target is not relevant. 

The Ministry is also implementing Off grid and Decentralized Solar Application Scheme of JNNSM.. The States submit the projects for installation of solar lighting systems for rural areas and Scheduled Tribes dominated areas as per their requirement. 

The Ministry sanctions the central financial assistance for the projects if found eligible as per the guidelines of the programme and availability of funds. 

Under the Off Grid and Decentralized Solar Application Scheme, total 9,39,862 solar lanterns, 10,01,890 solar home lights and 2,55,879 solar street lights have been installed in the country including rural areas and Scheduled Tribes dominated areas. 

This information was given by the Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.