TURA: The state wide launch of the central scheme Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) that aims to provide free electricity connection for the marginalized sections of society was also launched in the districts of Garo Hills with deputy commissioner, Ram Singh, doing the honours in Tura on Friday.
While addressing the gathering Ram Singh expressed his happiness for launching this scheme and extended his full support in smooth implementation of the scheme in the district. He also urged the officials of power sector to upgrade their sub-stations, provide better transformers, better poles, infrastructure, etc for undisrupted supply of power in the district.
Chief Executive Officer, West Garo Hills Circle, Meghalaya Power Distribution Coorporation Limited (MePDCL) Balnang R Sangma while briefing the aims and objectives of the scheme informed that the Saubhagya is a new scheme which was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 25th September 2017. He said that under this scheme, free and convenient electricity connections is being provided to those households comprising of APL and poor families in rural areas and poor families in urban areas. There are around 4 crore un-electrified households in the country and are targeted for providing electricity connections by December 2018. Rural electrification Corporation (REC) has been designated as its nodal agency for the Saubhagya Scheme, he added.
He further informed that the scheme aims to electrify 100 per cent household by providing last mile connectivity to all remaining economically poor un-electrified households in urban areas. The prospective beneficiaries would be identified using SECC 2011 data and those un-electrified households not covered under SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill, the CEO said. Further he informed that about 15, 834 households has been identified in the district for electrification and added that bills have to be paid as per their usage.
Project Director and Additional Deputy Commissioner, A M Sangma, President Nokma Council S G Momin, President, Senior Citizen, W G Momin were amongst others who spoke on the occasion.
Similar programme to launch the scheme was also organised at Ampati in South West Garo Hills district also.
