Uplift to villages of India! Govt launches GRAM UJALA scheme in Varanasi

New Delhi, March 25: After launching the Gram Ujala scheme in Bihar, Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh, launched the “Gram Ujala scheme” in Varanasi. As part of the scheme, govt will provide high-quality LED bulbs at an affordable cost of Rs 10 per bulb in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.

 

 

This scheme is financed based on carbon credits. It will claim carbon credits under “United Nations’ Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)”. Under the scheme, incandescent and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs will be taken back from the rural customers.

 

 

In phase one of the Gram UJALA program, 1.5 crore LED bulbs will be distributed which will have a significant impact on India’s climate change action with energy savings of 2,025 million kWh/year and carbon reductions of 1.65 million tonnes per year.  The program will enable better illumination, at an affordable price of INR 10/bulb.

 

 

 

 

This will usher in a better standard of life, financial savings, more economic activity, and better safety for rural citizens. It will boost rural employment as well as local economies. It will also uplift the villages of India and will contribute to climate change mitigation.

 

Power and new and renewable energy minister, Raj Kumar Singh, also appreciated the Uttar Pradesh government for electrification of every village in the state in nearly four years after signing the ambitious ‘Power for All’ agreement with the Centre.

 

Power Minister said that India is leading in energy transition as well as energy efficiency. This scheme is designed specifically for rural homes keeping affordability in mind and it will also result in energy savings as a 12 Watt LED bulb gives equivalent light as of 100-watt incandescent bulb.

 

Under the program, 7 watt and 12-Watt LED bulbs with 3 years warranty will be given to rural consumers against submission of working incandescent bulbs. The GRAM UJALA programme will be implemented only in villages of the 5 districts where consumers can exchange a maximum of 5 LED bulbs. These rural households will also have meters installed in their houses to monitor the number of hours of usage. Carbon credits will be prepared under the Shine Program of Activities with an option for verifying under the Voluntary Carbon Standard, depending on the needs of buyers.

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