Lucknow: A meeting to discuss amendments to the Chief Minister’s Weaver Solar Energy Scheme was held at the Khadi Bhawan in Lucknow under the chairmanship of Rakesh Sachan, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Village Industries, Silk Industry, Handloom, and Textile. The meeting focused on ways to provide solar energy benefits to powerloom weavers and address their concerns. Several significant proposals for enhancing the scheme’s effectiveness were discussed.
Objective and Benefits of the Scheme
The Chief Minister’s Weaver Solar Energy Scheme aims to reduce weavers’ dependency on traditional energy sources, particularly electricity, and promote the use of solar energy. The scheme offers solar power plants at subsidized rates to weavers, which will reduce their costs and make them more competitive in the market.
Proposed Amendments to the Scheme
Under the proposed amendments, powerloom weavers can now install solar power plants either through UPNEDA (Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency) or other suppliers registered with UPNEDA. The key condition is that the rates offered by the chosen supplier must be lower than those of UPNEDA. If the rates are the same, the weaver must opt for UPNEDA. This will provide weavers with greater flexibility and the possibility of obtaining solar plants at more affordable rates.
Previously, financial assistance was available only for solar plants with a capacity of 5 kilowatts or more. With the amendments, the scheme will now also provide financial support for plants with a capacity of 1 kilowatt, enabling smaller weavers to benefit from the scheme and expanding its reach to a larger segment of the weaver community.
Pilot Program and Implementation
The initial implementation of the scheme will take place in four zones through a pilot program. This pilot will help assess the scheme’s success and effectiveness, with plans to extend it to the entire state based on the results.
During the meeting, Minister Rakesh Sachan urged the weaver community to take full advantage of the scheme. He emphasized that solar power plants would not only reduce production costs but also contribute to environmental conservation. Additionally, he encouraged weavers to utilize the OTS (One-Time Settlement) Scheme to resolve outstanding electricity bills and achieve financial empowerment.
The amendments to the Chief Minister’s Weaver Solar Energy Scheme represent a crucial step toward solving the challenges faced by weavers and strengthening their economic position. This scheme will not only alleviate the energy crisis but also help weavers remain competitive and self-reliant. The proposed amendments and the pilot program’s successful implementation will infuse new energy and enthusiasm into the weaver community across the state.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Alok Kumar, Secretary Pranjal Yadav, Special Secretary Sheshmani Pandey, Commissioner and Director K. Vijayendra Pandiyan, along with other officials and weavers.
