CESL's Gram UJALA program crosses 1 million milestone

In a major development towards Gram Ujala Scheme, Convergence Energy Services Limited, a government of India company under the Ministry of Power, has achieved the milestone of distributing 1 million LED bulbs in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 

The distribution had begun in March this year but was interrupted by the second wave of COVID pandemic and its associated lockdowns. However, distribution has resumed and 10 lakh LEDs have been made available to rural homes in a short period of time. In addition to providing superior illumination at an affordable price of INR 10 per bulb, the savings per household are significant. The program is based on carbon finance through the creation of energy efficiency owing to the replacement of old incandescent lamps with LEDs.

CESL is providing rural households 7 watt and 12-Watt LED bulbs with 3 years warranty against the submission of working incandescent bulbs. As on date, 5,93,130 LED bulbs have been distributed in Bihar, covering 1,19,532 households. In Uttar Pradesh, the number is 4,35,746 bulbs in 87,546 households. 

Since its launch in Varanasi and Arah district by the Hon’ble Union Power Minister, Shri R K Singh, the Gram UJALA scheme has helped save costs of around 43.18 crore rupees per year, reduced energy, to the tune of 143 million kWh per year and mitigated 1,43 lakh tons of CO2 emissions. 

Applauding the achievement, Ms Mahua Acharya, MD & CEO, CESL said, “The milestone of 1 million LED bulbs is significant, as it shows us that we are on the right path. Having designed the programme specifically for rural India, it is encouraging that the uptake has been quick. The strategic use of carbon credits has allowed us to make these lamps available at such affordable rates, and we hope to bring similar initiatives that enable clean energy solutions with carbon finance.”

Under the Gram UJALA program, one consumer can exchange a maximum of 5 bulbs, which have a free replacement warranty of 3 years, are of superior quality than those offered in the market and last longer. These bulbs consume 88 percent less electricity as compared to their incandescent counterparts and can help in achieving 59 kWh of energy saving per month per household considering 5 LED bulbs per household.