J&K: Distant areas of Rajouri get electricity for the first time

Village residents of Rajouri district are delighted as they get electricity under the Soubaghya Electricity scheme, for the first time since India's independence. Around 20,000 homes have received an electricity connection for the first time. Areas including those near the Indo-Pak border were living without electricity since independence.

DDC Rajouri Mohammed Aijaz Asad while talking to a news agency, on this development said, "The Centre under Saubhagya scheme has provided electricity to around 20,300 homes. People are very happy here. The majority of the areas near the LoC did not have access to electricity since 1947. The scheme has impacted the region on a large scale."

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Locals carry out daily work easily

"We are very happy now. Our homes have been lit up. We can carry out day to day work easily. Development is taking place in the region with the coming of electricity. Our children are now able to study at night hassle-free. Earlier, they use to study with the help of oil lamps and candles. There are four transformers in the region now," said Khadharian sarpanch Khadim Hussain.

According to a local, with electricity now available in the region, businesses have also seen growth. He said, "New shops are opening as there is electricity now. Carpenters have installed welding machines in their shops and are getting a good response from the customers. Two to three electricity polls have set up in our areas. We are now able to charge our mobile phones in our homes. I thank the government for this."

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Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - 'Saubhagya' scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 25, 2017. Under Saubhagya free electricity connections will be provided to all the rural areas (both APL and poor families) and poor families in urban areas will be provided.

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(With inputs from ANI)