The full form of the UJALA scheme is Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All. The UJALA scheme was launched by our honorable Prime Minister on 1st May 2015 and described the LED bulbs as Prakash Path, which is a Hindi term for Way to Light.
The ordinary bulbs are very expensive as compared to the LED bulbs or Light Emitting Diode. The LED Bulbs consumes only one-tenth of the light consumed by ordinary bulbs and provide equal light or even more light than the ordinary bulbs.
The scheme is implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited, which is a joint venture of Public Sector Undertaking under the Union Ministry of Power like NTPC, PFC, REC, and Power Grid.
The scheme encourages every household in India to use LED bulbs. By using this, the net power consumption rate will come down, and the carbon emission rate could also be checked.
Under this scheme, 20 Watts LED tube lights, and BEE 5 Star rated energy efficient fans will also be distributed to the consumers. The power consumed by the normal tube light is 40 Watts, and this consumption is double of the tube lights distributed under this scheme which is of 20 Watts.
These tube lights are available at a price of Rs. 220 each against those who are available in the market at the cost of Rs. 400 to 600. The fans which are distributed under this scheme are very energy efficient as they come with 30 percent more energy efficiency than ordinary ceiling fans, or we can say conventional ceiling fans. The price of these new fans is Rs. 1200 per fan.
Key Features of the UJALA Scheme
- According to the scheme, net 3 Crore LED bulbs will be distributed for a period of the next six years.
- This scheme will provide energy-efficient 9 Watts LED bulbs to the people of Madhya Pradesh at the cost of Rs. 85 per bulb.
- The scheme will not only reduce the electricity bill but will also add the security of energy in the Country.
- The DISCOM offices and EESL will be responsible for the distribution of LEDs under this Scheme.
Objectives of UJALA Scheme
- Promote Efficient Lighting: The ordinary bulbs, tube lights, and fans come a lot of energy as they as energy inefficient. The government is trying to promote LED bulbs, LED tube lights, and fans, which are energy efficient. These new lights which the government is trying to promote consume very less energy as compared to ordinary bulbs and tube lights.
- Spread Awareness: Through this scheme, the government wants to spread awareness among people about the use of LED bulbs and tube lights. The scheme wants to educate people about the benefits of saving energy and encourage them to adopt energy-efficient LED bulbs and tube lights.
- Save Energy: There are two benefits of saving energy; first, the consumers will have to pay less electricity bill, and second, the department will be left with a surplus of energy, which could be used to light those villages which are still deprived of electricity.
- Preserve Environment: Humans are exploiting the environment, and for the production of electricity or power, the environment is being exploited. Using LED lights will preserve the environment from being exploited.
Target of the Ujjwala Yojana Scheme
- Replacement of Old Lights: Overall target of the scheme is to replace 770 million LED lights in coming three years.
- Energy Consumption: the scheme is looking forward to save around 105 bn Kilo Watt hour.
- Reduction in Load: the scheme is expecting to reduce 20,000 MW of the peak load.
- Green House Gas Emission:with this scheme, the annual estimated green house gas emission will be reduced by 79 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Public sector body of Government of India that is, the Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Service Limited is responsible for implementing the programs of this scheme. This agency is responsible to implement the UJALA scheme across the country.
How to Procure Led Bulbs?
- The LED bulbs shall be made available for consumers and shall be distributed through special counters set up by the government at designated areas of the city.
- The LED bulbs shall not be made available for sale at any other shop or other locations etc.
- The distribution will be done phase wise.
- The location of the place where the LED bulbs are made available shall be informed to the customers through awareness drives which include leaflets, posters, advertisements, etc.
Documents to be Submitted for Procurement of Led Bulbs
- The consumer shall need to attach the photocopy of the latest electricity bill.
- They shall need to supply a copy of ID proof along with the bill.
- A residential proof is also required. The address proof should match with the address mentioned in the electricity bill.
- The consumer shall need to pay the amount of the bulbs to the authority.
Maximum Number of Bulbs that can be procured by one household
According to this scheme, minimum number of bulbs is two and the maximum number of bulb is ten. The number depends upon the region in which these bulbs are open for sale. Like a domestic household shall need five to six bulbs and not more than that.
Faulty Bulbs or what next when the Bulb Fuses
- Life of Led Bulbs: The LED bulbs have a very long life and can last for 15 years if used five to six hours a day and therefore they do not fuse easily.
- Fuse: if LED bulb fuses, then, it is because of technological defects.
- Warranty over Bulbs:The EESL provide warranty over the LED bulbs and provide the same free of cost when any defect is discovered by the producer. The consumer shall require visiting the centers that replace the faulty bulbs provided under this scheme and can get their bulbs changed.
- DELP Distribution Counters: All distribution and replacement shall be done through designated DELP Centers that would be operated under the city. An EESL LED bulb can be replaced with any other companies LED bulb.
UJALA Scheme Launched Malaysia
On 6th September 2017, the UJALA scheme was launched by the EESL in the state of Melaka in Malaysia under the authority of Government in India. This launch was a result of huge success of the UJALA scheme in India. The scheme was launched with the following aims:
- To reduce the energy or power consumption in the state,
- To reduce the burden on the customers, and
- To preserve the environment at a global level.
This India model shall be used as it is in the state of Melaka and shall be implemented by the EESL and will also get facilitation support and logistical assistance from Green Growth Asia, which is a non-profit organization in Malaysia.
Advantages of the Ujjwala Yojana Scheme
- The scheme has successful reduced the price of other bulbs that are available in the market. This scheme gave a tough competition to bulb manufacturing companies and this forced them to reduce the prices of the bulbs which they sell.
- Energy efficient appliances, more specifically the LED bulbs consume less energy and are eco-friendly.
- These bulbs shall be economical for domestic household and help them to reduce their expenses on electricity bill.
- The defects in LED bulbs can be corrected without any cost. The defected bulbs will be replaced by the authority and therefore, people demand more of LED bulbs which are provided under this scheme.
- Transparency and Accountability: The government needs to make this scheme more transparent and accountable to the people. By doing this, more people will get attracted by the scheme and thus increase public creditability of the programme.
- Evaluation: The authority need to have a comprehensive evaluation of the varied impacts of the programme and the effectiveness of the process is also very important.