Provide affordable electricity to every household
Access to electricity empowers women
and enables education and communication. Millions of homes still lack
electricity. The per capita consumption between rural and fast-rising urban
India also represents a challenge, since there is a divergence between the two.
There are twin challenges to be faced in improving access and equity. The falling cost of renewable,
decentralised sources such as solar photovoltaics represents a ready solution
for rural India. Getting affordable
power to every household needs sustained policy support.
While the feat of extending power grids to all Indian villages is
creditable, it is unlikely to solve the problems that the power utilities are
faced with. In most States, urban households continued to receive subsidized
electricity at lower slabs. Politicians continue to promise free electricity to
farmers and people living in urban huts whereas the people in rural areas are
expected to pay hefty sum for getting electrical connection. Moreover,
electricity ceases to flow in these extended grid lines when there is a need
for it because of the excessive demand for electricity in urban areas. So it is
not surprising that only a few families in electrified rural areas are actually
connected to grid. The subsidy culture negates government's effort to promote
the development of renewable power, particularly the rooftop solar power plants
because most utilities are unwilling to let go of their "cash cows"
that pay higher electricity tariff to cross-subsidize domestic consumers and
farmers.
Not many rural households are in a position to spend for an electricity
connection. Though there is scope
for using solar power for electrification of our villages, not enough is being
done in this regard. Solar cooking can considerably reduce use of firewood in
villages while at same time it will be of immense benefits to village women.
The government should re-examine its
plans of rural electrification in view of fall in prices of solar power
equipment. A path-breaking work is being done by an NGO
in a village in Rajasthan. This NGO provides training to rural women to
assemble solar lanterns.
No doubt we have to appreciate every milestone achievement with regard to
Electricity reach, in villages and cities. The ideal/criterion to reach this
resource/input to schools and hospitals and such public utility locations is
appropriate and is long in existence. Access to electricity may be
thoughtfully/measurably incorporated as a parameter in poverty
measurement--food calorie access has long ceased to be an adequate criterion in
poverty measurement. Women's education in rural areas has been expanding and
this enhances family consciousness resulting in demand for electricity
connection. Also, this encourages youth and children from Poor households to
study during nights and possibly work during nights to earn and consume more;
faster and diversified reduction of poverty.
Electricity is an important input for human development, in as much as
lowered fertility rate and education, average levels of schooling among people
in the working age.
With rapid electrification India can realize its ultimate aim of
dark-less villages with abundant electric power in hand so as to use that in various
productive and time easing activities hence helping in building a strong team
of manpower regardless of rurality or urbanity.
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