The Kutir Jyoti Scheme is a Government of India initiative that aims to provide electricity to all households in rural areas. The scheme was launched in 2001 and is being implemented by the Ministry of Power through the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
*Objectives of the Kutir Jyoti Scheme:*
- To provide access to electricity to all households in rural areas
- To improve the quality of life in rural areas
- To boost economic activity in rural areas
- To reduce the use of kerosene lamps and other hazardous lighting sources
*Key Features of the Kutir Jyoti Scheme:*
- The scheme provides a subsidy of 50% on the cost of electricity connections for Below Poverty Line (BPL) households
- The subsidy is also available to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) households
- The scheme also provides for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in remote areas where grid connectivity is not feasible
- The REC provides loans to state governments and rural electric cooperatives for the implementation of the scheme
*Achievements of the Kutir Jyoti Scheme:*
- As of March 2020, the Kutir Jyoti Scheme has provided electricity connections to over 100 million households in rural areas
- The scheme has also led to a significant reduction in the use of kerosene lamps and other hazardous lighting sources
- The scheme has improved the quality of life in rural areas and has boosted economic activity
*Challenges in the Implementation of the Kutir Jyoti Scheme:*
- One of the major challenges in the implementation of the Kutir Jyoti Scheme is the lack of infrastructure in rural areas
- Another challenge is the high cost of electricity connections and solar PV systems
- Also the lack of awareness about the scheme among rural households.