<p class="p1">Villages without power were easy to find in Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) before 2020, but not anymore, says Syeda Afifa, a resident of Shopian district, <span class="s1"> J&amp;K</span>.</p>
<p class="p1">“Many governments have promised electricity, but, it reached here in August 2020. It feels good, safe and secure. Everyone is happy back at home and in my area,” the 23-year-old girl told <a href="http://indianarrative.com/">indianarrative.com</a> over phone.</p>
<p class="p1">Villagers of border areas in Rajouri, Poonch, Shopian districts are experiencing a positive change in their lives as their homes are electrified now. Villages across <span class="s1">J&amp;K  </span>get electricity under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya Yojana) which was launched in the state in 2017.</p>
<p class="p1">The Saubhagya Scheme is a Modi government initiative through which the Central Government aims to electrify all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.</p>
<p class="p1">Speaking on government efforts to electrify the village, Mir Junaid of Jammu Kashmir Workers Party told IN Bureau: “The electrification of the Nowshera sector has to be one of the most remarkable achievements of the current government. Not having access to electricity is a big limitation for humans in these times. The development of a region highly depends on the availability of energy resources and these achievements are clearly showing that the government is motivated to uplift the standard of living of the people living border areas.”</p>
<p class="p1">Junaid said: “The people who have had to live all their lives without having seen the light emitted by an electric bulb are enthralled at having supply being provided to them.”</p>
<p class="p1">Earlier this week, according to new agency ANI, about 44 Panchayats in Nowshera have been covered under the electrification project. Over 1,500 hundred families living in far-flung villages now have access to electricity.</p>
<p class="p1">According to government data, as of now, more than 400,000 households were provided with electricity before the target date in all 22 districts of J&amp;K.</p>
<p class="p1">The <span class="s1"> J&amp;K  </span>Power Development Department teams established close synergy with other departments, Gram Sewaks, revenue functionaries, public representatives to achieve the goal. Besides, mobile apps like Gram Jyoti Doot, UrjaVistaar were also devised by the department for fast track release of power connections.</p>.