Electricity Access in Indian Villages: Challenges and Progress
India has made significant strides in electrification over the years, yet some remote and rural villages still lack access to electricity. The challenges are predominantly found in certain states, such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, where hilly terrains and remote villages pose additional obstacles. Despite ongoing efforts, the situation remains complex and evolving.
States with Outstanding Challenges
Some states in India continue to struggle with electricity access in remote and rural areas. Bihar, for instance, particularly its northern parts, still faces significant issues with electricity access. Uttar Pradesh, especially in its rural districts, often lacks a reliable power supply. The state of Jharkhand, with its hilly terrain, also struggles with electrification in remote villages. Odisha's tribal areas and remote villages face the same problem, as do Chhattisgarh's tribal regions, and Madhya Pradesh's remote villages.
Government Initiatives and Schemes
The Indian government has been actively working to address these challenges through various schemes, including the Saubhagya scheme, which aims to provide electricity to all households. The Saubhagya scheme was launched to ensure that every household in India has access to at least one connected point of electricity. However, the journey to total electrification is long, and the situation can change over time. For the most current data, it is advisable to refer to recent government reports or studies on rural electrification in India.
Definition of Electrification
According to the new definition, a village is considered electrified if basic infrastructure, such as distribution transformers and lines, are provided in both the inhabited locality and any existing Dalit Basti hamlet. Electricity should also be provided to public places like schools, panchayat offices, health centers, dispensaries, community centers, and more. Additionally, at least 10 households in the village should be electrified. The electrification status of a village can be checked on the official government website.
Historic Electrification Initiatives
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India took a significant step towards ensuring that all villages had access to electricity. In 2014, an audit identified 18,452 villages without electricity, and Modi promised that every village would be electrified within 1,000 days. On April 28, 2018, Leisang, a hamlet in the remote northeastern state of Manipur, was connected to the grid, marking 988 days since the commitment was made.
Narendra Modi applauded the achievement, tweeting: "28th April 2018 will be remembered as a historic day in the development journey of India. Yesterday we fulfilled a commitment, due to which the lives of several Indians will be transformed forever! I am delighted that every single village of India now has access to electricity."
However, a closer look at the definition of "electrified" shows that the progress is not as comprehensive as it appears. According to official data, only 1,417 of India's 18,452 villages or 7.3% of the total have 100% household connectivity, and about 31 million homes are still in the dark. The government deems a village "electrified" if power cables reach a transformer in each village and 10 households as well as public places such as schools and health centers are connected.
Kristina Skierka of Power for All, a coalition of over 200 public and private organizations campaigning to deliver universal electricity access by 2025, claims that "total electrification" is far from reality and can only be achieved when all hamlets and households are covered. She argues that "village electrification" still leaves 90% of the people living in India's 18,452 targeted villages without electricity.
Moreover, a 40-watt bulb in a community center in a village of 50 or more households that works for 2-3 hours a day is considered "electrified." This means that 35% of India still lives in the dark.