Even though energy is a vital component for the development of the rural population

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Varanasi, April 6 (IANS) Amidst a looming energy crisis in Uttar Pradesh, environment and rights organisations Wednesday announced launch of a social audit of a central government scheme for rural electrification in Azamgarh district, Greenpeace said a statement Wednesday.

The audit of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) will be conducted from April 7-25 by Greenpeace and Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).

The aim of the audit is to bring out the implementation reality of the scheme and examine whether its mandate has been fulfilled.

The audit will be conducted in eight villages of Mehnagar and Tarwa blocks of Azamgarh district. The process will conclude with a public hearing in the district May 10.

Speaking at the launch of the social audit process, Greenpeace campaigner Maitree Dasgupta said: “The energy situation in Uttar Pradesh has been bleak and rural areas have been largely ignored.”

“But the very principle of the scheme of providing energy through a centralised grid based system is flawed and not working. For instance, a village is considered electrified if 10 percent of the households are provided a connection. But this does not ensure timely, regular and quality power supply to all,” said Dasgupta.

Azamgarh district has highest number of villages - a total of 1,951 villages in 22 blocks - under the purview of the scheme implemented across Uttar Pradesh.

“We will present the findings of the social audit and our recommendations to the Planning Commission and the union government,” said Akshay Gupta, campaigner, Greenpeace India.

“Even though energy is a vital component for the development of the rural population, there is hardly any electricity in the district when it is needed the most,” said Lenin Raghuvanshi of PVCHR.

PVCHR and Greenpeace would also invite Uttar Pradesh government and district administration officials to witness the social audit.

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