The central government’s e-governance services unit common services centres (CSCs) has allied with Tata Power to establish 10,000 solar-powered power grids and water pumps in rural regions across the country.
3.75 lakh CSCs will be roped in to deliver solar water pumps to farmers and also to build micro-grids in both residential and commercial establishments in the rural areas.
This collaboration will generate employment for at least two individuals in each panchayat in which the micro-grids will be set up. Hence, this entire initiative is set to overall provide jobs to 20,000 youths from rural areas.
At the ground level, village-level entrepreneurs (VLE) will assist in providing connection to rural citizens and MSME units.
The VLEs will be upskilled for both domestic and commercial installations and the power drawn through these units will reportedly be affordable, of higher quality, decentralized, and will also be serviced by a local entrepreneur.
“This partnership will increase energy access and provide an economic opportunity to the company by providing off-grid or microgrid power. This will help rural customers move away from burning relatively expensive fuels such as kerosene and can provide basic energy services and meet economic needs,” CSC e-Governance Services India Managing Director Dinesh Tyagi was quoted by the Economic Times.
The official statement further read, “This association will also meet the energy requirements of CSCs and address the need of a 24-hours supply of electricity to BharatNet in villages. A micro-grid has been piloted in five villages of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and learning from this will be useful in the full rollout.”
Meanwhile, Tata Power has also been requested by the CSC to lend their assistance for a rental model for solar water pumps that will be given to 6000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) across the country.