PM Saubhagya Scheme: The Central Government runs numerous welfare schemes to meet people’s needs for electricity, water, and food. Among these is PM Modi’s special initiative, the ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’ (Saubhagya Scheme). Under this scheme, the government announced the provision of free electricity to the country’s poor families. The Saubhagya Scheme covers all rural households. PM Modi announced this scheme during an ONGC event in 2017 with the aim of providing 24×7 electricity to every home.

The primary objective was to ensure electricity reached all households by 2019. Notably, the government launched this scheme on December 25, 2017, and concluded it on March 31, 2022. For context, the scheme spent a total of ₹16,320 crore: ₹14,025 crore for electrifying rural areas and ₹1,732.50 crore for urban areas. A key feature of the scheme was the provision of solar power packs in remote areas where grid electricity could not reach. Additionally, poor families were provided with free electricity for four LED bulbs and a fan.

Who received free connections?

According to reports, free electricity connections were provided to the poor under the Saubhagya Scheme. Meanwhile, those in the APL (Above Poverty Line) category were required to pay ₹500 for a connection, payable in monthly instalments of ₹50 over 20 months. The 2011 Census served as the basis for identifying the poor, and camps were organised to facilitate the provision of electricity connections.

Contribution by government companies

Government companies contributed significantly to this special scheme. Notably, the state-owned company ONGC provided substantial funding to startups to foster innovation. The government also wanted to encourage initiatives for manufacturing energy-efficient electrical appliances for domestic use.

Increased Employment Opportunities

This government scheme specifically targeted women. The aim was to improve their standard of living and create employment opportunities for them. Previously, the poor often had to make repeated visits to village heads and government offices to secure an electricity connection; under this scheme, however, the government provided connections through a simplified process.

States That Benefited from the Scheme

The benefits of the Saubhagya scheme extended to states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, and the Northeastern states. A large number of people in these regions benefited from the initiative. Since the scheme concluded, the government has not announced any extension. If you intend to apply for the scheme, you will need to wait for an official government announcement.