Khaira village becomes first in India to achieve full rooftop solar coverage

The district administration of Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh successfully equipped every household in Khaira village with rooftop solar power systems.

This initiative made Khaira the first village in India to reach 100 percent coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The village, which has a population of 889, now features 141 households with solar systems. Each home received a 2-kilowatt system, creating a total installed capacity of approximately 282 kW.

Residents received these systems at no cost because of a mix of state and central subsidies along with corporate social responsibility funding. Local women trained as PM Surya Sakhis led the mobilization by visiting homes to explain the program and help with paperwork. These women worked alongside a self-help group network to build trust within the community. The project also included special banking camps and meetings to verify documents and complete the necessary financial formalities.

The solar systems allow residents to use their own generated electricity and feed extra power back into the grid to lower their monthly bills. This change provides financial relief to low-income families, including pensioners and laborers. Rajnandgaon collector Jitendra Yadav stated that the success of the village could serve as a model for other areas.