Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik interacted with beneficiaries of key central schemes including PM JANMAN, DA JGUA and PM KUSUM on the eve of the 77th Republic Day. The beneficiaries have been specially invited to attend the Republic Day celebrations, reflecting the government’s focus on inclusive development and last mile delivery under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the interaction, beneficiaries from tribal and rural regions shared first hand accounts of how access to electricity and clean energy has transformed their lives. They highlighted improvements in education outcomes, healthcare access, livelihood opportunities, personal safety and overall dignity as a result of reliable power supply and renewable energy adoption.
The Minister outlined the significant progress achieved under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan PM JANMAN, launched on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas in November 2023 to electrify households belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Of around 1.43 lakh identified households, electrification has been completed in nearly 1.36 lakh homes, representing about 95 percent coverage, through coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Power, State Governments and distribution companies.
He also detailed progress under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan DA JGUA, launched in October 2024 to extend development benefits to Scheduled Tribe habitations. Under the scheme, a central grant of ₹4,203 crore has been sanctioned for electrification of more than 2.83 lakh households and over 4,200 public places. Around 56,000 households have already been electrified, with special relaxations in cost norms to ensure connectivity in remote and previously unconnected areas.
Highlighting clean energy initiatives, the Minister underscored the transformative impact of PM KUSUM, the world’s largest programme for solarisation of agriculture. To date, 10.4 GW of solar capacity has been installed and more than 21.7 lakh solar pumps have been deployed, benefiting over 21 lakh farmers. The scheme has led to a significant reduction in diesel consumption and carbon emissions while improving farm incomes.
The Minister also referred to PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, noting its role in enabling households to adopt rooftop solar, reduce electricity bills and move towards energy self reliance.
A total of 249 beneficiaries from 15 States have been invited to participate in the Republic Day celebrations. The three day programme in Delhi commenced with this interaction, which concluded with the Minister reiterating that beneficiary feedback is central to refining implementation and ensuring that development reaches the most remote and underserved regions of the country.
