Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: A boost to employment and entrepreneurship – Asia Pacific | Energy India Magazine

PM Surya Ghar: The Mufti Bijli Yojana, which was launched earlier to help 10 million households switch to solar energy, will bring about a change in the job market and entrepreneurial opportunities in India.

The government plans to train 100,000 people to install and maintain solar panels for various jobs in the renewable energy sector. According to sources familiar with the development, the ministries of renewable energy and skill development and entrepreneurship have joined hands to chalk out a broad ‘skill plan’ for the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Myft Bijli Yojana’.

As part of the government’s plan to promote rooftop solar projects, it is creating a mechanism to help households generate 300 units of electricity from grid-connected solar panels. Subsidies of up to INR 78,000 are available for those willing to participate in the scheme.

The scheme is expected to on the one hand promote the use of solar energy and on the other hand create the workforce to support this transition. REC Ltd, the lead agency for the scheme, will engage entities including the National Energy Training Institute and the National Skill Development Corporation for the training.

A key aspect of this plan is the SURYAMITRA Skill Development Training Program which is organized by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). This program will provide technical training to individuals to become skilled technicians in the field of solar technology.

Within this program, 10+2 graduates, ITI diploma holders and other equivalent qualifications will be trained. The training program covers the installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of solar panels and is aligned with the National Solar Mission (NSM).

Encouraging entrepreneurship in the solar sector

Along with the capabilities, the scheme also addresses the concern of the lack of a strong vendor ecosystem to support widespread installation of solar panels. The government will train 50,000 vendors in the venture and convince them to register on the national rooftop solar portal.

This will help reduce hassles in the registration process. Until now, solar sellers had to register with distribution companies. Direct registration on the portal will create a simple network of sellers.

With an outlay of INR 75,021 crore, the PM Surya Ghar: Mufti Bijli Yojana will bring economic and environmental benefits to the country. The scheme is implemented through energy distribution companies and a chain of retailers. Subsidies will be transferred directly to consumers of distribution companies and they will be given collateral-free loans to ensure access and widespread adoption.