85 per cent India's population has access to electricity, more than government's figure: World Bank
Electricity
The World Bank report said 250 million people may gain electricity access by early 2020s, when India reaches full access.
Days after the government announced electrification had reached every village in India, the World Bank backed the government's claim saying that India is doing more on electrification than any other country.
Leisang in Manipur was the last village to get an electricity connection, according to government records a village is considered electrified if 10% households, schools and health centres get access to electicity.
"India is doing extremely well on electrification. We are reporting India about 85 per cent of the population has access to electricity," said Vivien Foster, lead World Bank author of the latest report on Energy Progress.
This, she said is higher than that of the Indian government figures.
"That might surprise you. The government is currently reporting in low 80s," she said.
Between 2010 and 2016, India providing electricity to 30 million people each year, more than any other country, the World Bank said.
"In absolute terms, India is doing more on electrification than any other country. Thirty million a year, is really an astounding performance and it stands out from the crowd," Foster said.
The World Bank report said 250 million people may gain electricity access by early 2020s, when India reaches full access.
"We know that in some parts of India or having the connection doesn't necessarily guarantee the energy's reliable supply. So, getting the connection obviously is very important, but India still has a long way to continue to work on actually making that access meaningful in terms of hours of service," Foster said.
The rapid growth of electricity access in India is propelled by the country's $2.5 billion electrification programmes to reach universal electrification, the report said.