Publication - May 2, 2011
The Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) is a flagship programme of the Government of India which began in April 2005 and aimed to accelerate the pace of rural electrification programme in the country. The scheme has focused mainly on the development and extension of the centralised grid system to rural areas to provide quality and reliable power.
The Ministry of Power is the nodal agency implementing the scheme with a mandate to attain the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) goal of providing electricity to all households by 2010 (the same was extended to 2012). However looking at the implementation pace, Government is planning to take it up in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) as well.
Therefore, it is imperative that RGGVY is reviewed by the people before it is continued in the 12th plan period and people's concerns and suggestions are taken into consideration to ensure that the scheme does deliver quality energy to the millions in India currently deprived of it.
Greenpeace India has initiated a social audit series to enable such a process in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The aim of the audit is to bring out the implementation reality of the scheme and examine whether the mandate of the scheme has been fulfilled or not. In Bihar, surveys were conducted in Saran and Madhubani districts.
Here are the results of the survey in Saran.
Decentralised Renewable Energy = Energy Equity
Saran district, Bihar