Chhattisgarh village gets electricity for the first time since Independence

The residents of Jokapath village had a long wait for around 70 years before they could see their homes lit up with electricity.

Jokapath, surrounded by forest and mountains and having a population of 1,652 people is located in Chhatisgarh’s Balrampur district got electricity connections for the first time since independence.

We are very happy now that we finally have electricity in our village, now our children can study well and progress in life, said Sarpanch of Jokapath village.

MS Markam, CEO of Janpad said that this is a village surrounded by mountains and forest cover. After 70 years people of Jokapath village now have the facility of electricity.

Jokapath village in Balrampur district of #Chhattisgarh gets electricity connections for the first time since independence pic.twitter.com/Gkl2uJaGv1

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017

Also Read| All households in the nation need to be electrified before 2022, says Amit Shah

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana “Saubhagya” electricity scheme to electrify all rural households across India by 31st March, 2019.

The total outlay of the Saubhagya scheme to provide 24x7 power to all families across India is pegged at Rs 16,320 crores which will be funded to a large extent by the Centre.

Also, in 2015, the Modi government had set a 1,000 day-target to provide electricity in 18,000 villages. However, Modi kept up this promise partially.

According to the criteria used by the power ministry since October 1997, a village called electrified if power is distributed in public places such as schools, panchayat offices, health centres, dispensaries and community centres, and at least 10 percent of households.

Also Read| J&K government launches scheme for electricity for all households SAUBHAGYA