Comm Secy S&T reviews Tribal sub-plan (2024-25) for coverage of 100 Tribal villages with renewable energy

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 03: Commissioner Secretary Science & Technology (S&T) Department, Saurabh Bhagat, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat to discuss the action plan under Tribal Sub-Plan (2024-25) for identification and 100% coverage of 100 Tribal villages with renewable energy.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA, officers of Science & Technology Department and JAKEDA.

The meeting was held in the backdrop of 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs wherein Prime Minister suggested that the states/UTs should take up the challenge of having100 villages in each State/UT driven 100% by renewable energy. The scheme envisages to extend the benefits like access to electricity,

improved quality of life, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability to tribal communities

Addressing the officers during the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary highlighted that the 100% saturation of Tribal villages with renewable energy will have far reaching benefits to these communities like access to electricity, improved quality of life, health and safety, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. He called upon the officers to work in mission mode for successful implementation of this scheme and achieving 100% saturation.

The Commissioner Secretary advised all Deputy Commissioners to fully utilize the current Swachata Pukhwada by distributing Solar Home Lights and Biomass Cookstoves free of cost and aim to saturate one Tribal village with RE intervention identified in their respective districts.

During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary informed that JAKEDA and S&T Department plans to provide Bio Mass portable Cookstoves, Solar home lighting systems to tribal families free of cost, which shall be fully funded by JAKEDA. He added that under partially funded scheme, JAKEDA shall also be providing Solar Agriculture Pumping Systems under PM-KUSUM component-B scheme of MNRE, GoI which entails a subsidy of 80% and the beneficiary has to bear cost of 20% only and solarisation of existing Agriculture Pumping Systems under PM-KUSUM component-C scheme which also entails a subsidy of 80% as well as Solar Rooftop Power Plants under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna which entails a subsidy of Rs.94800/- upto 3kWs and Bio-Gas Plants with a subsidy of Rs.22000/- per plant.

It was also made out in the meeting that under the contribution funding, JAKEDA shall install Solar Street lighting systems in these villages identified by the district administration.