The Ministry of New and renewable energy has released new guidelines for the model solar village component under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. While the scheme is aimed at installation of solar panels on residential rooftops, this component aims to create one model solar village in every district of the country. The total budget outlay for the scheme is Rs 750.21 billion with this component being allocated Rs 8 billion. Each model village will receive Rs 10 million as central financial assistance.
The objectives of the scheme include:
- Solarise one village per district and encourage the adoption of solar rooftops across India.
- Facilitate and promote access to clean and sustainable energy in rural areas.
- Empowering village communities to become more self-sufficient in meeting their energy requirements. This will help them reduce energy costs by generating electricity locally.
- Establishing a fully solar-powered village, covering all households and public spaces.
- Promoting the use of technologies such as solar-powered home lighting systems in every household, solar-based water systems, solar pumps for agriculture, and the installation of solar streetlights throughout village roads and community infrastructure.
The scheme will be implemented by the state renewable energy development agencies or any other agency nominated by the state government.
