PM Modi gets 'emotional' over Chhattisgarh village getting electricity for first time since Independence

New Delhi/Balrampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed happiness over a tribal village in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district getting electricity connection for the first time.

"Such news makes me extremely happy and emotional. It is gladdening to see so many lives being brightened," the PM tweeted.

Such news makes me extremely happy and emotional. It is gladdening to see so many lives being brightened. https://t.co/4hVrHc4elv — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2017

The Jokapatha village, situated in the mountainous region, had been deprived of power supply since Independence.

Jokapath village in Balrampur district of #Chhattisgarh gets electricity connections for the first time since independence pic.twitter.com/Gkl2uJaGv1

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

"We are very happy now that we finally have electricity in our village, now our children can study well and progress in life," the Sarpanch of Jokapath village told ANI.

In September 2017, PM Modi had launched a Rs 16,320-crore scheme - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana 'Saubhagya' - to provide electrical connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018.

According to an official statement, the total outlay of the 'Saubhagya' project is Rs 16,320 crore while the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs 12,320 crore.

The outlay for the rural households is Rs 14,025 crore while the GBS is Rs 10,587.50 crore. For the urban households the outlay is Rs 2,295 crore while GBS is Rs 1,732.50 crore, PTI reported.

The Centre will provide largely funds for the scheme to all States/UTs. The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.

However, it was said that un-electrified households not covered under the 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 solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with the battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug.

Beneficiaries shall be identified and their application for electricity connection along with applicant photograph and identity proof shall be registered on spot, the statement had said.

(With Agency inputs)