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The Integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) aims at developing capabilities at the micro-level for planning and implementation of area based energy plans and projects with the objective of meeting energy needs of rural population for productive and subsistence needs.

The programme has two components, viz., the Central sector and the State sector components. The Central Sector component includes:

Central outlay is used for developing capabilities in the States for preparing and implementing integrated rural energy plans and projects.

Providing Grants-in-aid for staff in the IREP project cells at the State, District and Block levels and also supporting their training needs.

• Preparation of project reports.

• Support for extension work.
   

State sector outlay is utilized for:

• Implementation of IREP plan and projects including funding of demonstration activities.

• Provision of Financial incentives for various energy devices.

• Providing funds for extension and other related activities for the implementation of the plan.

Funds and Resources from other ongoing schemes and programmes for energy input are also utilized in IREP Blocks with the objective of creating sustainable models of development and showcasing the utility of Renewable Energy based solutions steeped in locally available resources.

Cumulative Achievement

• 7 Districts – Dumka, Hazaribagh,

• 22 Villages under the abovementioned districts and blocks were selected for implementation of this programme.

• Technical Backup units are functioning at the State Headquarters, Ranchi.

Overview

• Integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) was conceptualized during the Sixth Five Year Plan and launched as Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the Seventh Plan.

• IREP was transferred in 1994-95 from the Planning Commission to MNES.

• IREP aims at promotion of an optimum mix of both conventional and non -conventional energy sources in selected Blocks in the country.

The objectives of the Programme are as follows:-

• Provision of the most cost effective mix of various energy sources and options for meeting, the requirements of sustainable agriculture and rural development by giving due weightage to environmental considerations.

• Provision of minimum domestic energy needs of cooking and lighting in IREP Blocks

• Development of capabilities in States/UTs for preparation and implementation of Block Level Energy Plans and Projects.

• Ensuring large scale peoples’ participation in the planning and implementation of programmes through the involvement of Panchayats, voluntary organisations and institutions at the micro level for the implementation of the IREP projects.

• Setting up and strengthening of the mechanisms and co-ordination arrangements for linking micro level planning and rural energy and economic development so as to ensure regular and planned flow of energy inputs for meeting, the requirements of various end-users in the IREP projects.

• Financing of the programme by supplementing available Central and State budgetary support with resources to be mobilised by the panchayats and other local bodies and peoples’ participation.

Financial support
IREP has two components as mentioned below:

Central Sector Component
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme provides grants-in-aid for support staff in the IREP project cells at the State and Block levels, training of the staff and extension work

State Sector Component
State Sector outlays are utilized for the implementation of IREP Block Energy Plans and Projects including funding of demonstration activities, financial incentives for various energy devices, extension and other related activities and mobilisation of resources from other ongoing schemes and programmes for energy and rural development in the IREP Blocks. A total of 860 blocks has been sanctioned for implementation in all the States and Union Territories. State Level Technical Back Up Units (STBU) have been sanctioned to 19 States/UTs for providing technical support to IREP State and Block Cells A total of 22 National Pilot Projects (NPPs) have been sanctioned to 17 States/UTs to serve as model IREP Blocks. Regional IREP Training Centres have been set up one each at village Bakoli, NCT of Delhi; village Amrol, district Anand, Gujarat; Jakkur, near Bangalore, Karnataka; Shillong, Mehgalaya and Chinhat, near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Out of these, the Lucknow, Delhi, Jakkur and Village Amrol, District Anand Centres are functioning at present. IREP is implemented by State nodal departments and nodal agencies.

Salient features of National Pilot Project (NPP)

• To build up mechanism for increasing the necessity of utilising energy in an efficient way among rural masses.

•  Meet the basic minimum energy needs for cooking and lighting of IRDP beneficiary in the NPP Block on 100% coverage basis.

• Jointly funded by State and Centre on 50:50 basis, upto Rs.10.00 lakhs for each NPP.

• To serve as model IREP Block by strengthening/updating the links/components of the on-going IREP.

• Make IREP more participatory, cost effective, sustainable and accessible.

Regional IREP Training Centres
Functions of the Centres are as follows:-

• To impart training to the manpower at village, block, district, State and National level in planning, implementation for Integrated Rural Energy Programme.

• To develop course materials for different training courses of various levels on Integrated Rural Energy Programme.

• To establish data base on rural energy demand and supply for different micro-regions of the States and sub-regions.

• To monitor various rural energy and development projects for developing suitable computer simulation models.

• To establish facilities for documentation, information, dissemination and mass communication in the area of rural energy.

• To establish all demonstration centres for renewable energy sources

• To undertake Research and Development work of rural energy systems.

• To undertake Research and Development on programme implementation and management models including the use of various organisational and institutional alternatives including voluntary agencies/NGOs.

• To carry out economic, social and environmental impact and other related issues.

Address of the four functional Centres are given below:-

1. Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Integrated Rural Energy Planning and Development, Village Bakoli, Alipur, NCT of Delhi.

2. IREP Trianing Centre ,Deva Road, Chinhat ,Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

3. Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy and Development, Srirampura Cross, Jakkur, Bangalore-560 064

4. IREP Training Centre, Village Amrol, District Anand, Gujarat