Comm Secy S&T reviews sub-plan to cover 100 tribal villages with renewable energy

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, August 3: Secretary to the Commissioner, Department of Science and Technology (S&T), Saurabh Bhagat, today chaired a meeting at the Civil Secretariat where the action plan under the Tribal Sub-Plan (2024-25) for identification and 100 per cent renewable energy coverage of 100 tribal villages was discussed.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, the Director General of JAKEDA, officials from the Department of Science and Technology and JAKEDA.
The meeting was held in the context of the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries of all States/Union Territories, where the Prime Minister suggested that States/Union Territories take up the challenge of having 100 villages in each State/Union Territory run on 100% renewable energy. The programme envisages extending benefits like access to electricity, improved quality of life, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability to the tribal communities.
Addressing the officers during the meeting, the Secretary Commissioner emphasised that 100% renewable energy saturation in tribal villages will bring far reaching benefits to these communities like access to electricity, improved quality of life, health and safety, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. He urged the officers to work in mission mode for successful implementation of this scheme and achieve 100% saturation.
During the meeting, the Secretary Commissioner informed that JAKEDA and the Department of Science and Technology are planning to provide portable biomass cooking stoves and solar powered home lighting systems to the tribal families free of cost. The project will be fully funded by JAKEDA.
He added that under the partially funded scheme, JAKEDA will also be providing solar pump systems for agriculture under component B of PM-KUSUM Scheme of MNRE, GoI, which carries a subsidy of 80% and the beneficiary has to bear only the cost of 20% and also solarisation of existing agricultural pump systems under component C of PM-KUSUM Scheme, which also carries a subsidy of 80% and rooftop solar power plants under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna Scheme, which carries a subsidy of Rs 94,800 up to 3 kW and also biogas plants with a subsidy of Rs 22,000 per plant, he added.
It was also decided at the meeting that, as part of the funding, JAKEDA will install solar-powered street lighting systems in villages indicated by the district administration.