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The Government proposes to increase the capital subsidy on schemes like Rural Electrification Distribution Backbone (REDB) and Village Electricity Infrastructure (VEI). The present subsidy of 40 per cent on them is to be hiked to 90 per cent. This is intended to strengthen the power distribution network in the villages. The Centre is also considering a cent per cent grant for connecting households below the poverty line.
The proposed measure will replace the existing scheme of accelerated electrification of 1 lakh villages and 1 crore households.
The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Power with the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) as the nodal agency to administer the subsidy and provide financial assistance. The REC would provide a single window service to facilitate the scheme’s implementation and also provide promotional support for the programme in the next 5 years. Since the task is gigantic, the Government would also make the services of Central public sector undertakings available to the States as per their willingness and needs. This would ensure timely completion of the projects.
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