|
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is to launch the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in New Delhi on Monday. The new Rural Electrification Scheme aims at electrifying all villages and habitations and providing electricity access to all households.
The scheme aims at creation of rural electricity distribution backbone with at least one 33/11 KV or 66/11 KV sub-stations in each block. It also aims at building up the village electricity infrastructure by installing at least one distribution transformer in each village or habitation. Decentralized distribution generation will be undertaken where grid supply is not feasible or cost effective.
The ultimate aim of the RGGVY is to bridge the urban rural divide and accelerate rural development by generating employment and eliminating poverty.
The UPA Government in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) has promised household electrification in the next five years. With this end in view, the UPA Government has stated that it will pay special attention to augmenting and modernizing rural infrastructure and electrification.
Under the new rural electrification programme, 90 per cent of the capital cost is to be given as grant by the Central Government in keeping with the NCMP goals. All below poverty line households will get electricity connection free of charge.
The launching of the rural electrification programme will be attended by the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi who will be the guest of honour. As part of the programme, it is also proposed to hold video conferencing with 11 Chief Ministers and the Governor of Bihar.
EK/MK.
|
