Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana 2021

Farmers cannot use their land properly, especially the area of the state that is mountainous, due to which the agricultural farming is becoming barren. To provide employment opportunities to such small and marginal farmers and unemployed residents of the state Uttarakhand government is going to set up solar power plants under Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana on such land which is not in proper use. It is encouraged to develop the means of income by selling the power produced to UPCL^[1].

Objectives of Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana

The main objectives of Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana are:

To provide self-employment opportunities to young entrepreneurs, such as migrants from Uttarakhand who have returned to the state because of the Covid-19 pandemic and other small and marginal farmers.
To prevent migration in search of jobs from the hilly and rural areas.
To develop income sources by planting solar power plants on such agricultural land, that has become barren.
To promote the production of the green energy in a state.
Under the scheme, along with the establishment of solar power plants, the land will be used for the farming and production of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs, etc., for generating an additional income.

Details of the Scheme

This scheme will be called Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana.
This scheme will be applicable throughout the state.
Solar power plants of 25 kW capacities shall be allowed under this scheme.
Under this scheme, eligible persons such as residents of the state will be able to set up solar power plants on the private land or land on lease.
A target has been set to allot 10000 projects to eligible applicants under this scheme. The year-wise targets will be determined with the consent of MSME and the Finance Department.
This scheme is issued by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in respect of the “Chief Minister Self Employment Scheme” dated May 09, 2020. The scheme will be conducted in the form of a chapter.
On establishing the solar power plant allocated under the scheme, the grant/margin money and benefits will be allowed by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Industries (MSMEs) for manufacturing activity.
Applications can be made under this scheme by interested persons through an online portal.
The scheme will be implemented by Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) and will be acted as a cooperative institution by UPCL and State Cooperative Bank.

Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana: Eligibility Criteria

This scheme will be valid only for permanent residents of Uttarakhand.
Under this scheme, enterprising youth of the state, rural unemployed ones and farmers above 18 years of age can participate.
There shall be no obligation of educational qualification to participate in this scheme.
In the scheme, only one solar power plant will be allotted to one person.

Loans and Permissible Benefits for the Scheme

Under this scheme, loans shall be given to the selected beneficiaries by Uttarakhand State/District Cooperative Banks at an 8 % interest rate on the basis of admissibility.
In this scheme, up to 70% of the total cost of the plant will be received by the beneficiary through a loan from state/cooperative banks, and the concerned beneficiary will bear the remaining amount as margin money.
Under the scheme, the selected beneficiaries will be able to get the margin money/grant and benefits as provided under the Chief Minister Self Employment Scheme operated by the MSME department.
The cooperative bank will give loans under this scheme for 15 years.
If a beneficiary wants to install a solar power plant at his own expense or by availing loan from any other nationalized bank/other banks, then the beneficiary should also have the grant/margin money admissible under the “Chief Minister Self Employment Scheme” by the MSME Department. And you will get benefits.
Under this scheme, 100% exemption will be given to selected beneficiaries on stamp duty levied for mortgaging their land after conversion.
Under this scheme, seeds of climate-based medicinal and spongy plants will be made available free of cost to selected beneficiaries on the land to be set up, due to which the concerned beneficiaries will be able to produce solar energy on their own land along with bee-keeping and local produce. Such as (ginger, turmeric, and other herbs) yields will help develop additional sources of income.

Application/Selection Process for the Scheme

Step 1- Applications shall be received by UREDA on the online portal for this scheme.

Step 2- With the application, each beneficiary must have to deposit Rs. 500 with GST included as application fee in the form of bank draft in favour of the Director, UREDA, Dehradun, or UREED Account.

Step 3- For scrutiny of applications obtained, a ‘technical committee’ will be constituted in every district as follows: –

General Manager, District Industries Center, or any representative nominated by him.
Executive Engineer of a respective district of UPCL
Representative of District Cooperative Bank
District Officer of Ureda, (Coordinator)

Step 4- The allotment of a project to the applicants found to be technically suitable shall be done at the district level by the committee constituted as follows: –

District Magistrate or Chief Development Officer nominated by him – Chairman.
General Manager, District Industries Centre – Member.
Executive Engineer, UPCL – Member.
Secretary / General Manager of the district concerned, District Cooperative Bank – Member.
Senior Circle Officer / Project Officer, Ureda – Member Secretary.

Required Documents for Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana

Process to Apply under Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana

Open the Official Website of Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana i.e. msy.uk.gov.in.

Official Website of Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana

On receipt of the project allocation letter, the power purchase agreement will be signed with the UPCL by the beneficiary.
A copy of the project allocation letter, PPA, project report, and other necessary records will be submitted by the beneficiary to the District General Manager, District Industries Centre.
The above application will be forwarded to the concerned bank branch by the General Manager, District Industries Centre, within 07 days.
Within 15 days of receipt of an application in the bank branch, the beneficiary will be informed about the acceptance/rejection of the loan to the District Industries Center.
After approval of the loan, the claims of margin money will be submitted by the concerned bank branch to the District Manager, District General Industries of the district concerned, on which, within 07 days of receipt of the claim, the amount of margin money will be transferred to the bank branch/beneficiary’s account by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
This margin money will be available in the beneficiary’s account as TDR (term deposit), and after receipt of margin money, interest on the part of margin money will not be payable in the total project cost.
After the solar power plant’s successful operation for two years, margin-money will be adjusted as a grant.
Technical standards relating to grid connection, power generation, installation/commissioning, etc. The solar power plant shall be valid as per the regulations laid down by the Honorable Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The beneficiary will set up a solar power plant as per the technical norms set by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India (MNRE).
No change in the installed solar power plant ownership for two years after commissioning of the project (COD).
Amendment, modification, and clarification of any provision of this scheme can be done only with the minister of the Administrative Department’s permission.

Technical Standards for the Project

25 KW capacity plants will be allocated under this scheme.
Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 drains (300 sq m) of land will be required to install a 25 kW solar power plant.
A total expenditure of Rs 10 lakhs is expected at the rate of about Rs 40 thousand per kWh on setting up a plant up to 25 kW capacities.
Depending on the availability of average sunlight in the state of Uttarakhand, a total of 38000 units per year can be produced at a rate of about 1520 units per kWh for the entire year from a plant of 25 kW.
Under this scheme, an application will have to be made for the installation of solar power plants up to 300 meters Aerial Distance (air distance) and 100 meters Aerial Distance (air distance) in the plains from 63 KVA and above capacity installed by UPCL. . If a large number of applicants apply within the prescribed distance around the transformer, then in such a case, the project allocation will be done based on the annual minimum income of the applicants.
Information on the locations of all transformers installed of 63 KVA and above capacity will be made available on the online portal by UPCL in the state, on the basis of which applicants can apply.
The power produced from the project allotted under this scheme will be purchased by UPCL at the rates fixed by the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission for 25 years.
For the purchase of electricity by UPCL, a purchase agreement (PPA) will be made with the concerned beneficiary.

Conclusion

Uttarakhand Mukhyamantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana is beneficial for unemployed youth, farmers and migrants of the state will be provided self-employment opportunities through solar energy. State unemployed, entrepreneurs, migrants from Uttarakhand who have returned to the state due to Covid-19 will provide self-employment opportunities. Through this scheme, will be the means of income developed by setting up solar power plants on the agricultural land that is becoming barren. At Aatmnirbhar Sena, we are also moving mountains to serve the unemployed youth, farmers, and migrants of Uttarakhand.