“CM Solar Self Employment Scheme” proved effective in self-employment along with preventing migration, the foundation of solar energy revolution was laid in Uttarakhand
The foundation of solar energy revolution has been laid silently in the land of Ganga-Yamuna and Badri-Kedar. Hundreds of people are successfully operating their solar plants through the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme. At present, about 600 MW of solar energy is being generated in Uttarakhand, along with this, a new solar power plant of 174 MW capacity has also been allotted.
To stop migration in the state as well as to develop means of self-employment, the government of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is running the CM Solar Self-Employment Scheme. Under the scheme, a person from a family can install a solar plant of 20, 25, 50, 100 or 200 kilowatts. Whose entire generated electricity is purchased by UPCL. For this, they are being given the benefit of all the exemptions available under the Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme and the MSME Policy of the Department of Industries. Only permanent residents of the state are eligible for solar plants, the plant can be established on their own land as well as on leased land. Loans are being provided through cooperative banks as well as other banks for setting up the plant.
“Uttarakhand has received the gift of sunshine from nature, the sun shines here even in winter. For this reason, the state of Uttarakhand is ideal for solar energy. That is why the government is promoting solar projects. For this, entrepreneurs are being encouraged in many ways. Along with preventing migration, the solar project has proved effective in increasing the economy of the villages.”
Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister
Success Story 01
Amod Panwar, a resident of Tipri village near Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi district, has set up a successful self-employment model of solar power project, farming-horticulture as well as fisheries and beekeeping. Amod says that earlier due to grid power supply, power supply in the village was irregular, his village is right in front of Tehri Lake. In such a situation, Tehri Dam had only symbolic importance for the villagers, but now due to the solar project, the power supply of the village has also improved. According to Amod Panwar, there is good sunlight even in winter days in the mountains, due to which solar projects are ideal for the mountains, other youth should also come forward in this direction.
Success Story 02
Pratap Singh Rawat, a resident of Devprayag development block in Tehri district, installed a 400 kW plant in his own name in 2020, after which he took a 200 kW plant in the name of his wife. After successfully running both these projects, he has started another 200 kW project in the name of his son under the CM Solar Self-Employment Scheme this year. In this way, there are a total of three people in his family and all three have their own solar projects. Rawat says that the life of this project is about 25 years, in this way the government has given him 25 years of employment from home. He has reverse migrated from Dehradun back to his village.
