13,824 more identified under tribal component
Srinagar, Mar 09: Despite repeated claims of universal electrification across the country, more than 29,000 households in Jammu and Kashmir are still awaiting electricity connections under ongoing government schemes, pointing to persistent gaps in last-mile power access in the Union Territory.
According to details accessed by Rising Kashmir, as many as 15,359 households in J&K have been sanctioned electricity connections under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), but no household had been electrified under this component at the time of reporting.
The data also shows that 13,824 additional households have been identified for electrification under the DA-JGUA component of RDSS, yet none of these households has received electricity connections so far.
Taken together, the figures suggest that over 29,000 households in Jammu and Kashmir remain without electricity access under ongoing schemes, even as the government has repeatedly maintained that household electrification across the country was completed several years ago.
According to the details reviewed by Rising Kashmir, a household is considered electrified once it receives a single-phase or three-phase electricity connection through distribution infrastructure such as HT or LT lines and transformers, or through standalone solar systems.
However, energy experts say that the presence of a connection does not always translate into a reliable or uninterrupted power supply, particularly in remote and mountainous regions like many parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Government records indicate that all inhabited un-electrified census villages in India were electrified by April 2018 under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). Subsequently, the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) aimed to extend electricity connections to every willing household by March 2019, providing connections to about 2.86 crore households nationwide.
Both schemes have since been closed, with the government now focusing on strengthening power distribution infrastructure through the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Across the country, projects worth ₹2.83 lakh crore have been sanctioned under RDSS to upgrade distribution networks, strengthen substations and introduce smart metering systems.
Power supply in Jammu and Kashmir continues to face structural challenges ranging from difficult terrain and scattered habitations to ageing infrastructure and high transmission losses.
Even in electrified areas, residents frequently report long power cuts, voltage fluctuations and unreliable supply, particularly during winter months when electricity demand peaks.
Under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, distribution companies are expected to ensure 24×7 power supply to consumers, although regulators may permit lower supply hours for specific categories such as agricultural users.
