“Solar Gram Yojana” under PM-Muft Bijli Yojana – Maharashtra State Electricity Distibution Company Limited

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Case Study

Rural Solar Empowerment for Sustainable Electrification 

Introduction 

Saur Gram Yojana is a transformative initiative focused on providing sustainable and decentralized solar energy solutions to rural areas. By ensuring 100% solarization of villages, it addresses the challenges of unreliable power supply and expensive grid infrastructure. The program incorporates community participation, training, and local support, with a vision to expand under the PM Suryaghar Yojana for broader rural electrification.

Problems
Rotational day-night power supply causes inconvenience, particularly at night, for agricultural consumers. Subsidized agricultural power burdens the state government and high-paying industrial consumers. The need to achieve 100% solar village solarization and last-mile solar village connectivity remains unmet. Despite government subsidies and low-interest loans, many rural consumers face difficulties affording Solar Rooftop Systems (RTS). Additionally, RTS application processing faces delays, requiring a faceless, paperless system for efficiency.

Solutions
A district-level committee with Gram Panchayat officials ensures effective implementation and reviews. MSEDCL field officers conduct awareness camps to educate rural consumers about RTS installation. Funding from dedicated sources and low-interest loans from the Jansamarath portal supports poor consumers. A paperless and faceless system for RTS application processing, along with dedicated vendors, streamlines the process. The auto-approval of technical feasibility accelerates RTS application approvals and physical progress.

Outcomes
Under the Saur Gram Yojana, 101 villages were selected for 100% solarization, with 4,134 applications received. A total of 6,075 KW of rooftop solar (RTS) was installed for 1,013 consumers. The RTS installation process was supported by government subsidies, DPDC, CSR funds, and low-interest loans. Manyachiwadi and Tekewadi villages were declared 100% solarized in August and October 2024, respectively. The program aims to achieve 100 solar villages by March 2025, with plans for further expansion.

Challenges
Simplifying procedures for seamless integration was complex. Convincing unaware and uneducated rural consumers to install RTS was challenging. More extensive training and awareness campaigns were required to reach a larger consumer base. Poor consumers still struggled with the cost of RTS installation despite available support. Processing RTS applications proved difficult, requiring dedicated vendors and regular training.

Innovation
Solar power serves as a decentralized, eco-friendly solution for rural electrification, providing energy access without the need for extensive grid infrastructure. Regular training and local technical support ensure sustainable maintenance of solar installations. Community-based maintenance and local monitoring contribute to long-term success, while public awareness campaigns educate rural communities on the benefits, savings, and sustainability of solar energy.

Opportunities

The innovation lies in the scalable model of solar power adoption, with successful implementation in villages under the Saur Gram Yojana, enabling continued expansion and future improvements through PM Suryaghar Yojana

Summary

The Saur Gram Yojana aims to enhance rural energy access through solar power, addressing challenges like limited grid infrastructure and high installation costs. The program focuses on 100% solarization of villages, with a strong emphasis on community participation and local monitoring. With successful implementation in select villages, the program is set for expansion under the PM Suryaghar Yojana.

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For more information, please contact:
Lokesh Chandra at cmd@mahavitaran.in

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