Jharkhand Leads in Off-Grid Solar Rollout For Tribal Communities: Says Minister

Jharkhand has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) new solar power scheme for tribal and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) habitations. The Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, shared this data in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The data shared by the minister in the written reply revealed, "Among the six key states covered under the scheme, Jharkhand topped the list with 1,286 households benefitting from the initiative, followed by Chhattisgarh (729 households), Tripura (310), Karnataka (179), Andhra Pradesh (175), and Telangana (126). Overall, the scheme benefited 2,805 tribal Households spread across six states."

The scheme, implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and the Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), provides off-grid solar systems to households and institutions in areas where grid connectivity is not techno-economically viable.

Additionally, the minister mentioned that Off-grid systems such as solar home lighting units and mini-grids are deployed under the scheme for tribal and PVTG households, multi-purpose centres, and public institutions, the minister said.

The minister, while sharing these details in a written reply, mentioned, “Under this scheme, off-grid systems (Solar Home Lighting Systems/Solar Mini Grids) are provided to tribal and PVTG households, multi-purpose centres (MPCs) and public institutions in Tribal and PVTG areas, where electricity supply through grid is not techno-economically feasible.” 

Households Sanctioned Under New Solar Power Scheme

Last week, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said that MNRE has provided solar benefits to 9,961 households, while the Ministry of Power (MoP) has reached 120,227 households, out of a total of 143,194 households sanctioned under PM JANMAN. He was responding to an unstarred question raised by MP Neeraj Dangi in the Rajya Sabha.

The mission aims to improve socio-economic conditions in tribal areas over three years through electrification and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The programme involves 11 interventions implemented by 9 central ministries, with a total budgetary outlay of ₹24,104 crore (₹15,336 crore central share and ₹8,768 crore state share).

Each ministry is responsible for implementing its assigned intervention. Fund release is subject to guidelines, submission of proposals, and approval under prescribed procedures by the relevant States, Union Territories, or implementing agencies.