Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal on December 20 launched the ‘GARV–II’ App here as the next step in Government of India’s aim to provide electricity to all households in the country. Under this module, village–wise and habitation–wise base line data on household electrification for all states, as provided by them, has been incorporated.
Explaining the features of the ‘GARV–II’ App, Goyal said that the data in respect of about 6 lakh villages, with more than 15 lakh habitations having 17 crore people, has been mapped for tracking progress on household electrification in each of the habitations of these villages, which is a remarkable progress over the previous GARV App. In the earlier version of the ‘GARV’ App, launched in October 2015 for the effective and efficient monitoring of village electrification programme, the data of only 18,452 un–electrified villages had been mapped and a 12–stage milestone–based monitoring mechanism was put in place.
The Minister informed that the status of village–wise works sanctioned under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and release of funds to the states for these projects has also been mapped in ‘GARV–II’ to monitor progress of works at each village, according to a PIB release. Goyal said this App is an important part of the ‘Digital India Initiative’ of Government of India and will contribute in further development of the villages.
For places, where internet facilities are not available, Goyal suggested to put information regarding rural electrification 0projects like contractor’s name, amount sanctioned by the government, deadline of the project etc. on boards on the working sites in villages, said the PIB release.
Goyal also urged state governments to determine an average price for electricity connections for APL (Above Poverty Line) families across the state so that they can be given electricity connections through the option of payment in easy monthly installments. Goyal also unveiled the Citizen Engagement Window ‘SAMVAD’ created to enhance participation of public at large.