Untitled - Ministry of Power

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Rural Electrification Programme
Rural Electrification involves supply of energy for
two types of programmes:
(a) Production oriented activities like minor
irrigation, rural industries etc;
(b) Electrification of villages.
While the emphasis is laid on exploration of
ground water potential and energisation of
pumpsets/tubewells, which has a bearing on
agricultural production, the accent in respect of
areas covered under the Revised Minimum Needs
Programme (RMNP), is on village electrification.
According to the earlier definition: “A village is
classified as electrified if electricity is being used
within its revenue area for any purpose whatso-ever.”
This definition of village electrification was
reviewed in consultation with the state
Governments and State Electricity Boards and
following new definition was adopted:
:A village will be deemed to be electrified if
electricity is used in the inhabited locality within
the revenue boundary of the village for any
purpose whatsoever
It has been decided now to revise the definition
of village electrification and a new definition of
village electrification is as under:
“A village would be declared as electrified if
(i) Basic infrastructure such as Distribution
Transformer and Distribution lines are
provided in the inhabited locality as
well as the Dalit Basti/hamlet where it
exists. (For electrification through Non-
Conventional Energy Sources a
Distribution Transformer may not be
necessary).
(ii) Electricity is provided to public places
like Schools, Panchayat Office, Health
Centres, Dispensaries, Community
centers etc. and
(iii) the number of households electrified
should be at least 10% of the total
number of households in the village.
During the year 2003-2004, 4589 inhabited villages
were electrified and 192721 pumpsets/tubewells
were energised. Cumulatively 494587 villages have
Chapter - 8
been electrified and 14002634 electric irrigation
pumpsets have been energised as on 31.3.2004.
As regards the electrification of tribal villages,
out of a total of 107045 tribal villages in the
country, 82976 (Provisional) villages have been
electrified as on 31.3.2004. Similarly, 301019
(Provisional) Harijan Bastis have been electrified
as on the same date.
PRADHAN MANTRI GRAMOYADA YOJANA
(PMGY)
Rural Electrification was included under Pradhan
Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) from 2001-
02 to achieve human development at the village
level. The six components of PMGY now are:
Primary Health, Primary Education, Rural
Drinking Water, Rural Shelter, Nutrition and Rural
Electrification. During 2001-02 as against the
allocation of Rs. 421.00 crores, Rs. 412 crores
was released to the States for rural electrification.
During 2002-03, the PMGY is being administered
by the Planning Commission. Under the revised
guidelines, the States would have flexibility to
decide their inter-se allocation of ACA among
the six PMGY sectors as per their own plan
priorities and discretion The funds for village
electrification are available as Additional Central
Assistance with 90% grant and 10% loan for
the special category States, and 30% grant and
70% loan for other States. Government has
allocated Rs. 36066.35 lakhs to various States
under PMGY for 2003-04 for rural electrification
(Annexure-I).
MINIMUM NEEDS PROGRAMME
The revised criteria for the MNP components of
rural electrification adopted since the beginning
of 7th Plan are as under:-
(a) all North-Eastern hilly States;
(b) All States with less than 65% electrification
and in these States those districts will be
taken up which has less than 65%
electrification provided that districts having
least percentage coverage will be given
priority over the others; and
(c) All areas including in the tribal sub plan.