Explore DDUGJY's goals, benefits, and efforts to bring electricity to rural India, addressing challenges and involving eligible entities in electrification.
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana Overview
- The Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), initiated in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents a significant stride towards illuminating every village in India. This visionary scheme seeks to extend the benefits of electricity to agricultural fields, facilitating the installation of transformers, feeders, and electricity metres in rural areas.
- Replacing the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme, the program aims to ensure uninterrupted power supply across rural India. The government’s commitment is evident through its pledge to electrify 18,452 villages within a span of 1,000 days.
- By addressing the fundamental need for electricity in agriculture and fostering rural development, the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana plays a pivotal role in improving the livelihoods and economic prospects of rural communities nationwide.
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana Objective
The primary objective of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana is to ensure electricity access for all rural areas in India, fostering an enhancement in the overall standard of living. By providing electricity facilities, this scheme eases farming practices, thus benefiting the livelihoods of rural citizens. Under this initiative, the provision of feeders, transformers, and electricity metres to farmers becomes a crucial step in boosting agricultural productivity and economic well-being, contributing to the overall development of rural India. This objective aligns with the vision of a self-reliant and electrified rural landscape in the country.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana Benefits
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana offers a multitude of advantages for rural India, addressing critical needs and fostering holistic development:
- Universal Electricity Access: Ensuring every village in the country has access to electricity, improving the quality of life for rural citizens.
- Empowering Farmers: Providing electricity to farmers’ fields and making transformers, feeders, and electricity metres available, enhancing agricultural productivity.
- Elevated Standard of Living: Enhancing the overall standard of living in rural areas, contributing to socio-economic development.
- Initiated by Prime Minister Modi: Launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2014, demonstrating the government’s commitment to rural electrification.
- Replacing Previous Scheme: Replacing the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme, with a renewed focus on electrification.
- Rapid Electrification: Targeting the electrification of 18,452 villages within 1,000 days, promoting faster development.
- Significant Budget Allocation: The government has allocated a substantial budget of ₹ 43,033 crore for the scheme’s implementation.
- Grant Allocation: Offering an 85% grant to special category states and a 60% grant to other states, ensuring equitable support.
- Nodal Agency: The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited serves as the nodal agency, ensuring efficient implementation.
- Support for Discoms: All Distribution Companies (Discoms) are eligible for financial assistance under this scheme.
- Industrial Development: Promoting the growth of small and domestic industries, contributing to economic progress.
- Improved Services: Enhancing health, education, and banking services, ultimately benefiting rural communities.
- Internet Accessibility: Providing internet facilities, reducing unemployment and facilitating digital empowerment.
- Agricultural Growth: Boosting agricultural production and income for rural farmers.
- Enhanced Infrastructure: Extending electricity to schools, panchayats, hospitals, and police stations, strengthening essential public services.
Some Major Initiatives of the Government Till Date Include
Over the years, the Indian government has introduced several significant initiatives aimed at transforming rural electrification and enhancing the lives of its citizens. Some of the noteworthy programs and policy measures include:
- Rural Electrification under Minimum Needs Programme: This initiative laid the foundation for rural electrification, addressing the basic electricity requirements of rural communities.
- Kutir Jyoti Yojana: A scheme designed to provide affordable and accessible electricity connections to rural households, particularly benefiting the economically weaker sections.
- Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana: A comprehensive program with a focus on rural development, including rural electrification, infrastructure, and social services.
- Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY): Launched to accelerate rural electrification, RGGVY played a pivotal role in extending electricity to underserved areas.
- Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY): Introduced with significant modifications in RGGVY, DDUGJY represents a substantial leap forward in rural electrification, with the aim of illuminating every village in India.
- Electricity Act 2003 (EA 2003): This legislation laid the groundwork for comprehensive reforms in the power sector, enabling a more efficient and accessible electricity supply.
- National Electricity Policy 2005: This policy provided a roadmap for the power sector’s development, emphasising efficiency, competition, and the inclusion of rural areas in electrification efforts.
- National Tariff Policy 2006: A policy framework designed to ensure reasonable and affordable electricity tariffs while fostering competition and ensuring the financial health of the power sector.
- Rural Electrification Policy 2006: A policy initiative dedicated to promoting rural electrification, recognising it as a key driver of rural development and socio-economic progress.
Challenges in Rural Electrification
Rural electrification in India has been marked by commendable efforts and progress, but it continues to face a set of complex challenges. Some of the significant obstacles include:
- High Costs of Grid Extension: Extending the electrical grid to remote rural areas can be prohibitively expensive. The substantial upfront investment required for infrastructure development often strains financial resources.
- Subsidised Tariffs and Low Recovery: Highly subsidised electricity tariffs, while well-intentioned, can lead to low revenue recovery. This shortfall in tariff collection can result in a negative financial return, making electrification projects unsustainable.
- Supply Rationing: Many rural areas experience supply rationing due to power shortages or irregular availability. This intermittent power supply can hinder the effective utilisation of electricity for productive purposes.
- Operation and Maintenance Costs: The operation and maintenance of rural electrification infrastructure, including power lines and substations, incur ongoing expenses. These costs can be high, particularly in remote and challenging terrains.
- Inaccessibility and Security Concerns: Some rural villages are located in geographically inaccessible or left-wing extremism-affected areas. Ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment in such regions can be a formidable task.
- Uneven Electrification Across States: Several states, especially in eastern India, continue to lag behind in electrification efforts. The disparities in electrification rates highlight the need for more targeted and region-specific interventions.
Components of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
The Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) is a comprehensive rural electrification program, consisting of several key components aimed at transforming the rural electrification landscape. These components include:
Separation of Agriculture and Non-Agriculture Feeders
One crucial aspect of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana is the separation of feeders for agricultural and non-agricultural use. This segregation facilitates efficient and equitable rostering of electricity supply to rural consumers, ensuring that agricultural and non-agricultural users receive a consistent and reliable power supply.
Strengthening and Augmentation of Sub-Transmission & Distribution (ST&D) Infrastructure
DDUGJY focuses on enhancing the sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas. This includes bolstering the capacity and reliability of distribution transformers, feeders, and end-user metering. Improved infrastructure is vital for ensuring a robust and dependable electricity supply to rural households and businesses.
Rural Electrification
Building upon the goals of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), DDUGJY continues the mission of rural electrification. It endeavours to complete the targets set in the 12th and 13th Plans as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in August 2013. By subsuming RGGVY into DDUGJY, the approved outlay for RGGVY is carried forward to DDUGJY, ensuring the continued expansion of electricity access in rural areas.
Scope of Work Under DDUGJY
Within the framework of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), eligible organisations have the opportunity to engage in rural area projects encompassing the following initiatives:
- Segregation of non-agricultural and agricultural feeders
- Development of micro-grid and off-grid distribution networks
- Reinforcement of the sub-transmission and distribution system
- Implementation of metering solutions
Eligible Entities Under DDUGJY
The Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) extends its eligibility to a range of entities dedicated to the electrification and advancement of rural areas. These eligible entities include:
Distribution Companies (DISCOMS)
This category encompasses all Distribution Companies, including both State Power Departments and private sector DISCOMS. Private sector DISCOMS, responsible for rural power distribution, collaborate with respective State Government agencies to execute projects under DDUGJY. Notably, the assets developed through this scheme are owned by the State Government or State-owned companies.
Rural Electric (RE) Cooperative Societies
RE Cooperative Societies also qualify to undertake projects within the DDUGJY framework. However, they must furnish annually audited statements detailing the utilisation of approved project funds. These statements are to be submitted through the concerned DISCOM and the State Cooperative Department, ensuring transparency and accountability in project implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana launched?
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) was initiated on November 20, 2014, by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with the aim of ensuring the equitable provision of electricity to both agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural regions.
What is the main objective of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana?
The Ministry of Power, Government of India, introduced the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for rural regions, driven by the following goals: To extend electricity access to every village, and to separate feeders, guaranteeing ample power supply to farmers and uninterrupted service to other consumers.
Who is eligible for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana?
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, has a distinctive focus on rural youth aged 15 to 35, aiming to diversify income within impoverished households and support them in achieving their career aspirations.
How many courses are offered in Ddugky (Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana)?
DU-GKY provides training courses of varying durations, which include three months (576 hours), six months (1152 hours), nine months (1728 hours), and twelve months (2304 hours).
What is the importance of the skill development scheme under Deendayal Upadhyaya Rural Skills Scheme?
This program supports rural youth by offering skill development training and help with finding jobs, allowing them to access wage employment opportunities. As a result, it contributes to expanding their income sources and empowering them to move out of poverty in a sustainable manner. DDU-GKY and its training partners serve as a connection between you and your career aspirations.
How to get the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana?
Through the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), if the policyholder passes away for any reason, the nominee is eligible to receive an insurance claim of up to ₹ 2 lakh. The premium for this insurance is applicable from June 1 to May 30. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana is a term insurance scheme initiated by the government led by Prime Minister Modi.
What is the new plan introduced under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana?
The program focuses on segregating the power supply for agriculture and households, while also enhancing the transmission and distribution infrastructure. Rural electrification is widely regarded as the cornerstone of the rural economy. Additionally, the government has intentions to install electricity metres at all rural levels in India.
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