Indus Valley Times

By Prakash Panigrahi

Phulbani/Odisha, Oct 1 : Taking rooftop solar awareness to the grassroots, TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) today flagged off its Solar Rath at Phulbani, Kandhamal, as part of the month-long Seva Setu Abhiyan. The initiative will create awareness about the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and encourage greater adoption of rooftop solar across the district.

The Solar Rath was flagged off by Shri Vedbhushan, Collector & District Magistrate, Kandhamal, and Shri Amit Kumar Garg, CEO, TPSODL, in the presence of senior officials and other stakeholders.

The Solar Rath will travel across all 12 blocks of Kandhamal district—Baliguda, Chakapad, Daringibadi, G. Udayagiri, K. Nuagaon, Khajuripada, Kotagarh, Phiringia, Phulbani, Raikia, Tikabali and Tumudibandh. It will take information directly to villages, Gram Panchayats, local haats, markets and community gathering points, besides reaching urban and semi-urban locations. Kandhamal has a large tribal population and communities spread across hilly and remote areas. Through this initiative, TPSODL aims to reach more consumers and encourage them to explore rooftop solar.

Through audio jingles, informative leaflets and IEC materials, the Solar Rath will communicate key information about PM Surya Ghar, including the benefits of rooftop solar, eligibility, application process, government subsidy and available financial assistance. TPSODL teams will also interact with consumers, address queries and facilitate greater understanding of rooftop solar adoption.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Amit Kumar Garg, CEO, TPSODL, said, “The Solar Rath is an important step in taking rooftop solar awareness beyond conventional communication channels and closer to the communities. Through this initiative, we want to make information on PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana easy to understand and accessible to consumers across Kandhamal, including those in rural and interior areas. Our teams will engage directly with communities, address their queries and help interested households understand the process and benefits of adopting rooftop solar. The initiative also reflects our commitment to supporting greater consumer participation in the clean-energy transition across Southern Odisha.”

The Solar Rath forms part of TPSODL’s wider IEC and consumer outreach efforts to promote rooftop solar adoption. The DISCOM has been undertaking community outreach, Gram Panchayat-level engagement and consumer interaction to bridge information gaps and support households interested in adopting rooftop solar.

The month-long Seva Setu Abhiyan provides a platform for taking information about government schemes and services closer to citizens at the grassroots. Through local-level outreach and facilitation, the campaign seeks to connect eligible beneficiaries with relevant schemes and services.

By integrating rooftop solar awareness with grassroots outreach, TPSODL aims to take PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana closer to households across Kandhamal. The campaign will use the Solar Rath, IEC materials, radio jingles and NukkadNataks to engage communities and promote rooftop solar adoption.