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Bhopal, Oct 28 (IANS) The BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government has approved a proposal to provide free electricity connections to households belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across the state under the Pradhan Mantri Tribal Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM Janman) scheme.
This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the Secretariat in Bhopal on Tuesday.
Briefing the journalists after the meeting, Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said that under the centrally sponsored PM Janman Yojana, electricity connections will be provided to all the identified PVTG houses.
“The Center will bear 60 per cent of the total cost to ensure electricity connectivity to all PVTG households in Madhya Pradesh, while the state government will contribute the remaining 40 per cent,” Vijayvargiya said.
He said that 18,833 PVTG families in 24 districts of the state are living without electricity connections. “Many of these families live in extremely remote areas, where one or two houses are located away from the main settlements. The government is planning to provide solar power systems to such isolated houses,” the minister said.
Vijayvargiya said that although the government had already provided electricity connections to most of the tribal families, these 18,833 households were left out due to their geographical isolation. “Those living in extremely remote and dispersed locations will get solar panels free of cost, ensuring that no PVTG household remains without electricity,” he said.
The Minister reiterated that this step reflects the government’s commitment towards inclusive development and empowerment of tribal communities under the welfare approach of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’.
Notably, in October last year, the state government had identified 5,481 villages with significant PVTG population and extended basic civic amenities to them under the PM Janman Yojana.
The scheme launched by the Center focuses on comprehensive development of particularly vulnerable tribal groups through better access to education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, housing and essential infrastructure such as electricity and drinking water.
-IANS
PD/PGH