Parliament Question: Electricity access to PVTG family

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1109 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 ELECTRICITY ACCESS TO PVTG FAMILY 1109 # SMT. RAMILABEN BECHARBHAI BARA: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) the number of tribal families belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and residing in remote and inaccessible areas that have been identified as still lacking access to electricity; (b) the progress made so far in electrifying PVTGs and other tribal families across the country; and (c) the measures taken by Government to overcome the constraints in ensuring electricity supply to remote and inaccessible areas? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK) (a) to (c) : Government of India has been supplementing the efforts of States in providing access to quality power to all households, including households in remote and inaccessible areas, under schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) launched in 2014, Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) launched in 2017, and currently under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), launched in 2021. Under DDUGJY, and thereafter under SAUBHAGYA electrification of all willing households was completed by 31st March 2019, as reported by the States/ UTs. A total of 2.86 crore households were electrified during SAUBHAGYA period. Both schemes stand closed on 31.03.2022. Under RDSS, on grid electrification works amounting to Rs 6,521 Cr have been sanctioned for 13.65 lakh households including households belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) identified under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), Scheduled Tribe households under Dharti Abha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsha Abhiyan (DA–JGUA), Scheduled Caste households under Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM–AJAY) and households in remote and border areas under Vibrant Villages Program (VVP), wherever found feasible. ……….2.- 2 - Based on the surveys conducted by the States, a total of 1,44,491 PVTG households and 3,24,644 tribal households have been identified for on-grid electrification under PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA respectively, out of which, works amounting to Rs 1,788 Cr for 4,15,773 households were sanctioned under RDSS. In addition, 53,362 households in the States of Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal have also been taken up under the respective State Plans. Till date, 1,95,841 PVTG and tribal households have been electrified. Further, under New Solar Power Scheme, works have been sanctioned for 8,823 PVTG and 4,099 tribal households for off-grid solar based electrification under PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA respectively. Till date, 11,106 PVTG and tribal households have been electrified. Government of India is taking all necessary steps to support States for electrification of all households. Since most of the left-out households are in remote, hilly and forest areas, the norms for electrification under RDSS were relaxed and the ceiling limit for cost of electrification was enhanced. Grid based electrification works have been sanctioned under RDSS wherever found feasible as per the revised norms. Further, regular review meetings are convened with all stakeholders to facilitate smooth execution of works and early achievement of targets. ************