The claim made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his government achieving 100% electrification of all villages in India has turned out to be false. Data analysed and presented by the government show that approximately 94% of the Indian villages were already electrified before May 2014. As per the 2001 census, there were a total 5,93,732 villages in India whereas the present government has used the 2011 census which shows a total of 5,97,464 villages in India. Till October 31, 2013, 5,61,613 villages were electrified, which show that roughly 93.99% villages were already electrified half a year before the Modi government came to power.
Leisang village in Manipur, like the thousands of other villages across India has been powered and empowered!
This news will make every Indian proud and delighted. https://t.co/UCPEEITbIM #PowerfulIndia
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2018
Also, as per sources, out of the newly electrified villages, only 8% villages have all homes with electricity. Above that, the government has decided not to change the definition of electrification. Presently, a village is considered electrified if 10% of the total number of households, including public places such as schools and health centres.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed the government’s claim as ‘yet another lie’ and attached a news piece with his tweet which claimed that the reality on ground was very different from what the government has claimed.
#EkAurJhoot https://t.co/mjw8Xl5O0m
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2018
Former finance minister P. Chidambaram termed the claim as a “complete jumla” of the government, who was trying to take the credit for the work done by the previous governments. “Dear Amit Shahji, India has 6,49,867 villages. Congress connected 97% with electricity. During UPA (2004-14), Congress electrified 1,07,600 villages. In 60 yrs, Congress average is electrifying 10,000 villages per year. Congress created #PowerfulIndia but didn’t boast! ½,” he tweeted. “Dear Modiji, On 26th May 2014; only 18,452 villages were without electrification. BJP government took 46 months to complete this at an average of 4,813 villages per year. This is – ‘celebrating inefficiencies’ and taking ‘fake credit’ for Congress work,” he added.
Dear Amit Shahji,
India has 6,49,867 villages. Congress connected 97% with electricity.
During UPA (2004-14), Congress electrified 1,07,600 villages.
In 60 yrs, Congress average is electrifying 10,000 villages per year.
Congress created #PowerfulIndia but didn’t boast!
1/2 pic.twitter.com/pktrzcqqD2— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 29, 2018
Dear Amit Shahji,
India has 6,49,867 villages. Congress connected 97% with electricity.
During UPA (2004-14), Congress electrified 1,07,600 villages.
In 60 yrs, Congress average is electrifying 10,000 villages per year.
Congress created #PowerfulIndia but didn’t boast!
1/2 pic.twitter.com/pktrzcqqD2— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 29, 2018