Chhattisgarh Bijli Sakhi Yojana: The Chhattisgarh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has unveiled the ‘Bijli Sakhi Yojana’, a first-of-its-kind pilot program that blends rural electrification with women empowerment. Launched in October 2025, the scheme marks a significant step toward achieving financial independence for tribal women while addressing operational challenges faced by the State Power Distribution Company in remote areas. For decades, electricity meter reading in Chhattisgarh’s far-flung villages was a logistical nightmare. Now, thanks to Bijli Sakhi Yojana, 21 women from local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have taken charge, earning steady income while becoming symbols of empowerment.
What Is the Bijli Sakhi Yojana?
The Bijli Sakhi Yojana in Jashpur district aims to empower economically vulnerable women by engaging them in meter reading, electricity bill collection, and awareness campaigns. The program not only strengthens the power department’s outreach but also ensures timely billing, reducing the losses caused by missing meter data.
Under this pilot program, each Bijli Sakhi is paid ₹12 per meter reading, translating to a potential monthly income of ₹4,000 to ₹6,000, depending on the workload. For many tribal families, this represents a lifeline of financial stability and dignity. The scheme’s slogan, “Har Ghar Bijli, Har Haath Rozgaar”, captures its dual objectives: universal electrification and employment for women.
Vishnu Deo Sai Launches Bijli Sakhi Yojana
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s vision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, which seeks to transform one crore rural women into earning entrepreneurs. During the official launch at Bagicha development block, Sai distributed smart power kits to all 21 women. These kits included digital meters, ID cards, flashlights, and training manuals. The Chief Minister emphasized that women could potentially earn up to ₹1 lakh annually under the program, making them economically self-sufficient. “Every meter reading they take is not just a number but a step towards empowerment,” said Sai while addressing the gathering.
Bijli Sakhi Yojana Functions
The Bijli Sakhi network functions as the bridge between consumers and the Chhattisgarh Power Distribution Company (CSPDCL). Selection: 21 educated and active SHG women were shortlisted by the district administration and Janpad Panchayat Bagicha. Training: Each Bijli Sakhi received comprehensive training in digital meter operation, data logging, and customer interaction etiquette. Operation: Women undertake door-to-door meter readings over a 5–7 day schedule each month. Payment: The power company credits direct remuneration based on the monthly reading count.The initiative’s goal is to expand this model to 300 women across Jashpur district, scaling up employment while ensuring electricity billing regularity across tribal blocks.
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Bijli Sakhi Yojana CG 2025 Economic Impact
According to nodal officer Tarun Singh, early success stories have already validated the model. A single Bijli Sakhi can earn anywhere between ₹50,000–₹60,000 annually, depending on performance and village size. For families often reliant on seasonal farm income, this additional revenue stream offers year-round economic security. Financial experts also believe that the model could contribute to micro-rural GDP growth by circulating disposable income at the village level, boosting small-scale consumption, savings, and even SHG reinvestments.
Chhattisgarh Bijli Sakhi Yojana-Empowering Women in Electrification
The participation of women in technical domains like electricity is not merely symbolic; it signals a gender-inclusive step in infrastructure management. Bijli Sakhis are trained to identify meter faults, help villagers register power issues, and ensure bills are delivered on time. Their presence has resolved longstanding delays that once plagued power distribution in remote tribal panchayats. Moreover, the project fosters leadership among rural women, aligning perfectly with the Deendayal Antyodaya Mission’s goal of community-led development.
As per government communication, the Chhattisgarh Energy Department plans to replicate the model in districts like Surguja, Kanker, and Dantewada, where connectivity issues often hinder power administration. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai remarked: “Bijli Sakhi Yojana symbolizes our government’s commitment to both women empowerment and rural energy accessibility. We aim to convert this pilot into a state-wide movement by the next fiscal year.” The government also plans to integrate the scheme with Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Saubhagya electrification programs for synergy.
Bijli Sakhi – Earn up to ₹1 lakh Annually by Reading Meters
The program’s innovation lies in merging digital empowerment, gender inclusion, and rural service delivery. It decentralizes essential utility operations to the grassroots, building trust between citizens and public institutions. It also draws parallels with Uttar Pradesh’s successful Bijli Sakhi Yojana (2020–2024), where over 30,000 women assisted in bill collection, collectively earning over ₹14 crore in commissions. Chhattisgarh’s localized version, however, focuses more on meter reading and consumption transparency — a mission-critical area for accurate billing. If scaled effectively, Bijli Sakhi Yojana could reduce non-technical electricity losses, strengthen the state’s financial resilience, and create a gender-balanced rural workforce unlike any before.
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FAQs on Bijli Sakhi Yojana 2025
It’s a Chhattisgarh government initiative launched in Jashpur to empower women from tribal communities by offering them employment as meter readers under the state power department.
They earn ₹12 per meter reading, averaging ₹4,000–₹6,000 per month, with potential annual earnings of ₹1 lakh.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched the program under the Energy Department and District Administration of Jashpur.
The goal is to expand the initiative statewide, promote financial independence of rural women, and reduce meter reading delays across Chhattisgarh.
Yes, it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakhpati Didi program, encouraging rural women to achieve annual earnings of ₹1 lakh or more.