India

Khaira Village in Chhattisgarh Reaches 100% Rooftop Solar Coverage

By Ritesh Mishra

Khaira village in Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh, has achieved 100 percent rooftop solar coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with all 141 households equipped with solar power systems, officials said on Monday. Rajnandgaon collector Jitendra Yadav announced that Khaira is the first village in India where every household has a rooftop solar system under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. The village has a population of 889 and each household received a 2‑kilowatt system, giving a total installed capacity of about 282 kW. The systems were provided at no cost to residents through a mix of central and state subsidies and corporate social responsibility funding. Of the 141 households, 93 benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana‑Gramin (PMAY‑G). Under a net‑metering arrangement, households can use the electricity generated by their panels and feed surplus power into the grid, reducing their electricity bills. Yadav said the initiative will offer significant relief to families with limited incomes. Beneficiaries include families dependent on pensions, farming, domestic work and wages under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika (VB‑G RAM G) programme. Shogil Gond, a PMAY‑G beneficiary who lives alone and relies on her pension, said the solar system has eased her concern over electricity bills. Kartik Yadav, a PMAY‑G and pension beneficiary who works under VB‑G RAM G and does domestic work, said the savings are important for his family. The mobilisation of households was led by local women trained as PM Surya Sakhis. Sangeeta Sahu and others went door‑to‑door to explain the scheme and helped residents with applications and documentation. The initiative also involved the self‑help group network associated with Padma Shri awardee Phoolbasan Bai Yadav. The campaign was coordinated through the gram panchayat headed by Sarpanch Bhupendra Yadav. PM Surya Sabhas and special banking camps were organised to explain the scheme, verify documents and complete banking formalities. Yadav said the participation of villagers and the efforts of the women who worked as PM Surya Sakhis were crucial in achieving 100 percent coverage. The district administration coordinated with various departments, banks and CSR partners to complete the initiative. Yadav said the Khaira model could be replicated in other villages, noting that coordination between the administration, local community, banks, CSR partners and women’s groups can help achieve complete coverage. With all 141 households covered, Khaira now has a combined rooftop solar capacity of about 282 kW under the initiative.