Social audit bares shortcomings in Rural electrification program in UP

LUCKNOW: A social audit to find out the implementation and status of the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme was carried out by Greenpeace in Tarwa and Mehnagar blocks of Azamgarh.

The outcome of the social audit and the shortcomings of the scheme to provide power to remote villages was put forth at a public consultation organised by Greenpeace and Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) on Tuesday.

"The audit pointed out that a large number of people have been denied a connection, hence the tall claims made by the implementing agencies is false. It was found that while meters have been put up at houses in these villages there was ironically no electricity connection to the household. One could see the lack of information and awareness about one’s rights under the scheme. The complaint redressal mechanism is also poor" said Ramapati Kumar, Campaign Manager, Climate and Energy, Greenpeace India.

He said that the process for the review of the scheme by the Planning Commission and the central government of the scheme also called Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana is underway.

Over Rs 32,000 crroe were spent under the scheme during the 10th and 11th five year plans which did not meet expectation due to the focus on centralised grid expansion model said Mr Kumar.

It was suggested that small scale renewable energy generation should be encouraged and target be set for the 12th plan period. Also to make social audit an integral part of the scheme to enhance accountability.

Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi of PVCHR said that guidelines for energy infrastructure for irrigation and medium and small scale industries should be included in the rural energy program.