UPSCpedia: Polipedia: Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana

• Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) was 
  • launched in April 2005 by merging all ongoing schemes. 
  • 90% grant is provided by Govt. of India and 10% as loan by Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to the State Governments. 
  • Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) is the nodal agency for the programme.
•        A village would be declared as electrified, if :

  Basic infrastructure such as Distribution Transformer and Distribution lines are provided in the inhabited locality. Electricity is provided to public places like Schools, Panchayat Office, Health Centers, Dispensaries, Community centers etc. The number of households electrified should be at least 10% of the total number of households in the village.

• The RGGVY aims at:

  Electrifying all villages and habitations as per new definition Providing access to electricity to all rural households Providing single point electricity Connection to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families free of charge.

• Infrastructure under RGGVY :

  Rural Electricity Distribution Backbone (REDB) with 33/11 KV (or 66/11 KV) sub-station of adequate capacity in blocks where these do not exist. Village Electrification Infrastructure (VEI) with provision of distribution transformer of appropriate capacity in villages/habitations. Decentralized Distributed Generation (DDG) Systems based on conventional & non conventional energy sources where grid supply is not feasible or cost-effective.

• Implementation Methodology and conditions under RGGVY :

  Preparation of District based detailed project reports for execution on turnkey basis. Involvement of central public sector undertakings of power ministry in implementation of some projects. Certification of electrified village by the concerned Gram Panchayat. Deployment of franchisee for the management of rural distribution for better consumer service and reduction in losses. Undertaking by States for supply of electricity with minimum daily supply of 6- 8 hours of electricity in the RGGVY network. Making provision of requisite revenue subsidy by the state. Determination of Bulk Supply Tariff (BST) for franchisee in a manner that ensures commercial viability. Three tier quality monitoring Mechanism for XI Plan Schemes made mandatory. Web based monitoring of progress. Release of funds linked to achievement of pre-determined milestones. Electronic transfer of funds right up to the contractor level. Notification of Rural Electrification Plans by the state governments.

• There are following categories of  implementing agencies 

  • 1. State Power Distribution Companies 
  • 2. State Electricity Boards 
  • 3. Government Power Department 
  • 4. Central Power Sector  Utilities 
  • 5. Co-Operative Societies
• A total of 235 projects were approved under 10th plan and  338 projects have been approved under 11th plan.
• A franchisee can be any 

  • Individual  Beneficiary, 
  • Group of Individuals, 
  • Self Help Group(SHG), 
  • NGO,  
  • Cooperative, 
  • Panchayati Raj institution, 
  • as the case may be.
• The various models of Franchisee are :-   

  • 1. Revenue Franchisee- collection based 
  • 2. Revenue  Franchisee- Input based 
  • 3. Input based Franchisee   
  • 4. Operation & Maintenance Franchisee 
  • 5. Rural Electric  Co-operative Societies