In a pioneering initiative, the state of Chhattisgarh has launched what officials are calling a first-of-its-kind national model. The project integrates rooftop solar power plants with permanent housing for families belonging to the Pahadi Korwa community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). This convergence ensures some of the state's most impoverished tribal households receive not just a pucca house but also the prospect of virtually free electricity.
A Pilot Project in Remote Gudurumuda
The innovative scheme was first implemented in its pilot phase in the remote Gudurumuda village, located in the Podi-Uproda block of Korba district. Here, rooftop solar systems were installed on eight houses belonging to Pahadi Korwa families. Officials from the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) emphasized that this marks the first formal dovetailing of the PM Janman Awas and PM Suryaghar schemes in the country to simultaneously provide housing and assured solar power to PVTG families.
CSPDCL Managing Director Bhim Singh explained the project's rationale to TOI. He stated that the initiative was designed to ensure the benefits of the PM Suryaghar scheme reach genuinely needy and remote households. This is achieved by converging the resources of PM Awas, PM Janman, and the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) on the ground for PVTG beneficiaries, a novel approach in India.
"By converging the Prime Minister's housing schemes, the Janman Mission and DMF funds, we have connected extremely marginalised tribal families to grid-based rooftop solar. This is just a pilot, but its success will show a new path not just for Chhattisgarh, but for the entire country," Singh said.
Bridging the Gap Between Housing and Power
Traditionally, housing schemes like PM Awas focused primarily on construction, without an inherent guarantee of a free power connection for every beneficiary. Conversely, while the PM Suryaghar scheme supports rooftop solar installation, it wasn't automatically linked to PVTG housing beneficiaries. This Chhattisgarh model creatively bridges that gap.
Each of the eight pilot houses was equipped with a one kilowatt rooftop solar plant under the PM Suryaghar scheme. The approximate cost for one such system is Rs 60,000. Funding was pooled innovatively: around Rs 45,000 came from combined central and state subsidies, while the remaining Rs 15,000 was covered by the DMF, which is financed by local mining revenues.
This resource pooling has allowed the state to establish what it terms a "permanent pathway" to free, clean electricity for marginalized families. The approach moves beyond merely providing a physical structure and avoids leaving households to grapple with recurring and often unaffordable power bills.
Immediate Impact and Future Expansion
The impact in Gudurumuda village has been immediate and tangible. Most Pahadi Korwa families depend on agricultural labour and daily-wage work, leading to highly erratic incomes. For them, a consistent electricity bill was a significant financial burden.
"Our life will run on solar now," said the grandson of beneficiary Manglu Ram, whose family received both a house and a rooftop plant. "We survive on farm and labour work. Earlier, it was very difficult for us to pay the electricity bills. Now our needs will be met by solar power and we won't have to spend extra money every month." The family admitted they could never have afforded such a system on their own.
Encouraged by the pilot's success, the state plans to expand similar convergence projects to more PVTG-dominated villages in Korba district. Eventually, the model is expected to be replicated in other districts with significant vulnerable tribal populations across Chhattisgarh.
CSPDCL officials highlighted the transformative potential of this model. In regions with unreliable grid supply and unaffordable bills, decentralized rooftop solar—backed by targeted subsidies and DMF support—can revolutionize household economics. By eliminating monthly power expenses and stabilizing electricity access, the model frees up cash for essential needs like food, education, and healthcare. Additionally, it reduces dependence on diesel generators and promotes the adoption of clean energy, contributing to environmental sustainability.
