In 2024, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched Bijli Sakhi Yojana in Jashpur. When this scheme was launched, women were selected from 21 self-help groups as Bijli Sakhis. After the successful implementation of the scheme now women of Chhattisgarh get employment through the scheme. This is a very good initiative, especially for women who want to earn money in rural areas. Under the scheme, women who are selected as Bijli Sakhi have to take the metre readings in their local area. This will help the electricity department to lower its work burden. The scheme helps women who belong to rural and Adivasi areas with up to 1 lakh. Employment is also generated in rural areas, and it will also help to improve the electricity services.
Bijli Sakhi Yojana Chhattisgarh
There are so many areas in Chhattisgarh in which meter reading is not taken on time. Most of the time, meter readings are wrong, and Consumers have to pay extra charges. After the implementation of Bijli Sakhi, they made the service easier and more convenient for consumers. The main work is to take meter readings on time. Women who become Bijli Sakhi now become self-empowered and start earning from 50000 to 100000 Rupees per year.
Motive of Bijli Sakhi Yojana
- When this scheme was launched in Chhattisgarh, initially, women were selected from 21 self-help groups. Now the scheme is implemented all over the state.
- With this scheme, women in rural areas will get a regular income.
- Metre reading services become more prominent and transparent.
- Extremely rural areas and Adivasi areas in which there is an issue related to electricity bills will be resolved with Bijli Sakhi.
- Bijli Sakhi will get technical training and become self-empowered with this scheme.
- Generate new jobs in rural areas and reduce the migration problem.
Implementation and start of the scheme
This scheme was initially started in 2024 by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai. The scheme was started under the Chhattisgarh Power Distribution Company (CSPDCL). At the time of launch, this project was started as a pilot project in Jashpur district, Bagicha Vikaskhand. Initial Bijli Sakhi was selected from 21 self-groups. Selected women will get training and then be appointed in the rural and adivasi area.
Implementation steps of Bijli Sakhi Yojana
- Selection of Bijli Sakhi: When the scheme was started then Bijli Sakhi women would be selected from self-help groups. These women are well educated and want to become self-empowered.
- Get Taining: After the selection, these women will get training in metre reading and data recording, so they will easily do their work without any confusion.
- Appointment: After the training process, they will be appointed in rural areas
- Start metre reading: When this starts, the process of taking metre reading begins; they will be paid according to their work. Women will be paid 12 rupees for reading. This will help them earn 4000 to 6000 rupees per month.
- Working hours: Women have to work 5 to 7 days a month. This will give them the freedom to do some other work with this job.
Benefits Of Bijli Sakhi
- The primary benefit of this scheme is to make women self-empowered. This will help them to earn money for themselves and their family members and become self-independent.
- The Other benefit is that meter readings will be taken on time. Electricity department employees face various types of problems when they visit any rural area for meter reading. Now went a local Bijli Sakhi will do this work, then all the metre readings will be taken on time.
- Metre will be collected on time, so it will increase the transparency in the whole system. It will help to reduce the wrong will issues.
- Women will become self-empowered when they start earning money and contributing to their family income.
Effect of the scheme
After the implementation of this scheme, it will make a very big impact in rural areas. There are so many rural areas in Chhattisgarh which is not connected to roads. Due to that electricity department employees do not reach these places on time. Now, Bijli Sakhi women do this work very easily.
Extension of the scheme
After the implementation of the scheme in Chhattisgarh, it has been very successful in rural areas. If this scheme continues to perform well, then it will be implemented in the remaining districts. The state government has an aim to recruit Bijli Sakhi in every rural area, for it will provide new jobs and improve the electricity department services.
Training to Bijli Sakhi
- Training related to meter reading
- How to use the Bijli meter reading app
- Maintain a record book and add data
- Smooth communication with consumers
- Send data on time to the electricity department employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chhattisgarh government started Bijli Sakhi Yojana for rural and adivasi areas, in which women will get a job as a metre reader. The scheme helps women to become self-empowered and earn money.
This scheme was started in 2024 by CM Vishnu Deo Sai in the Jaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
Women will be selected from 21 self-help groups in the first phase.
Bijli Sakhi get 12 rupees for 1 meter reading. So they can earn from 4000 to 6000 rupees monthly and up to Rs 1 lakh yearly.