First target of 10,000 villages met under RGGVY in 2005-06

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) A total of 10,169 rural villages in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Karnataka have been electrified by the Rural Electrification Corporation under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) during 2005-06, REC Chairman cum Managing Director A K Lakhina today said.

The next target before the REC is to provide village infrastructure development in 40,000 villages during 2006-07, under the scheme for 100 per cent rural electrification in states lagging on the power front.

Earlier, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde launched the National Programme of franchisees under the RGGVY, who will manage rural distribution of power.

Franchisees, who form the key component of the success of the scheme, include Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), users association, cooperatives or individual associations.

UNI SD CS HT1722