Otis Singleton
As of 2021, around one in three schools in India do not have electricity. This figure has improved in recent years, with 37% of schools lacking electricity connections in 2017, and 36% in 2019. The lack of electricity in schools results in reduced teaching quality and lower attendance rates. This is due to a lack of lighting and cooling equipment, as well as limited access to digital resources. In addition to electricity, a parliamentary panel has reported that over 40% of government schools in India also lack playgrounds and basic infrastructure such as boundary walls, endangering the safety of students and school property.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of schools without electricity | 37% (2017), 36% (2019), 40% (2020), 11% (2022) |
| Number of schools without electricity | 1,635 in Cuttack (2017) |
| States with lowest access to electricity in schools | Jharkhand, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh |
| Impact | Reduced teaching quality, less participation |
| Reasons for lack of electricity | Lack of budgetary funding, lack of focus on electrification of schools |
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What You'll Learn
In 2017, 37% of schools had no electricity
In 2017, 37% of schools in India did not have electricity connections, according to the Centre in a statement to the Rajya Sabha. This figure represents an improvement from 2016, when almost 60% of state-run schools in the district of Cuttack had no electricity.
The lack of electricity in schools has significant implications for the quality of education and the overall development of students. Electrification can improve access to lighting, equipment, water, sanitation, and digital resources, all of which contribute to higher attendance rates and better learning environments.
The issue of electrification in schools varies across different states in India. In 2017, Jharkhand had the lowest rate of electrification, with only 19% of schools having access to electricity. In contrast, states like Assam have higher electrification rates, with 19.5% of all schools and 100% of government schools having electricity.
To address the lack of electricity in schools, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives. Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan programmes, the Centre supported state governments and Union Territory administrations in providing electrification to elementary and secondary schools. Despite these efforts, a parliamentary panel in 2020 identified shortfalls in budgetary funding and utilisation, resulting in critical infrastructure gaps, including a lack of electricity in almost 40% of government schools.
The parliamentary panel made recommendations to address the issue, including suggesting that the HRD Ministry collaborate with schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to improve school infrastructure. Additionally, they emphasised the need for integrated policymaking that considers electricity installation and maintenance in educational institutions.
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Jharkhand has the lowest access rate at 19%
In 2017, Jharkhand had the lowest access rate to electricity in schools, with just 19% of schools in the state having an electricity supply. This was in stark contrast to the national capital and other regions such as Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry, which boasted 100% electrification of schools.
The lack of electricity in schools in Jharkhand and other states in India is indicative of the country's broader issues with school infrastructure. A parliamentary panel on education in 2020 highlighted significant shortfalls in budgetary funding and utilisation, resulting in critical infrastructure gaps. This included a lack of playgrounds, boundary walls, classrooms, labs, and libraries, in addition to the absence of electricity.
The issue of electrification in schools is not unique to Jharkhand, with other states like Assam and Madhya Pradesh also facing similar challenges. In Assam, for instance, only 19.5% of all schools had electricity as of 2021, while in Madhya Pradesh, less than 20% of schools had access to power as of 2017-18.
To address these issues, the parliamentary panel made several recommendations. They suggested that the HRD Ministry collaborate with schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to construct essential infrastructure like boundary walls. Additionally, they proposed working with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to provide solar energy and other renewable sources to power schools.
Despite some improvements, India still faces challenges in ensuring consistent electricity access in its schools. As of 2021, approximately 37% of schools in the country remained without electricity, indicating that further efforts and policy focus are needed to address this issue.
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40% of government schools have no power
As of 2020, about 40% of government schools in India do not have electricity, according to a parliamentary panel on education. This figure represents a slight increase from the 37% reported in 2017 and the 36% reported in 2019. The lack of electricity in these schools has significant implications for the quality of education and the overall development of the country.
The issue of electrification in schools is closely tied to budgetary allocations and infrastructure development. The parliamentary panel identified shortfalls in both budgetary funding and utilisation, resulting in critical infrastructure gaps. This has not only impacted the availability of electricity but also the construction of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and playgrounds. For instance, in government higher secondary schools, not a single additional classroom had been built by December 31, 2019, despite sanctions for 1,021 classrooms in the 2019-20 financial year.
The disparity in electrification rates is notable across different states in India. While some states like Assam have higher electrification rates, others like Jharkhand lag behind, with only 15.1% of schools having access to electricity as of 2021. Similarly, in the Cuttack district, almost 60% of state-run schools had no electricity connection as of 2017, highlighting the challenges of inaccessibility and inadequate infrastructure in these regions.
To address the issue of electrification in schools, India needs to adopt a more holistic approach. This includes integrating electricity installation and maintenance into educational budgets and shifting focus from household electrification to the electrification of institutions. By ensuring sustained access to electricity, India can improve lighting and equipment functionality, enhance water and sanitation conditions, and increase access to digital resources, all of which contribute to higher school attendance and improved educational outcomes.
Furthermore, the parliamentary panel has recommended collaboration between the HRD Ministry and schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to address infrastructure gaps. Constructing boundary walls and exploring renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, can also play a role in improving the overall infrastructure of these schools. Addressing these challenges is crucial for India's development and its commitment to sustainable development goals (SDGs).
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Manipur and Madhya Pradesh have less than 20% access
As of 2020, it was estimated that over 36% of schools in India did not have electricity. This figure has been confirmed by a parliamentary panel on education, which also noted that almost half of government schools in the country do not have electricity.
The situation varies across India. While all schools in Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have electricity, and 99.93% of schools in Delhi have a power supply, the states of Manipur and Madhya Pradesh have less than 20% access to electricity. In 2017, Jharkhand was reported to have the lowest rate of electrification, with just 19% of schools in the state having access to electricity.
The lack of electricity in schools has a negative impact on the quality of teaching and student attendance. It also affects the ability to utilise digital resources effectively. In addition to electricity issues, the parliamentary panel also noted that less than 57% of schools have playgrounds, and almost 40% do not have boundary walls, which endangers the safety of students and school property.
To address the issue of electrification in schools, the parliamentary panel recommended that the HRD Ministry collaborate with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to provide solar energy and other renewable energy sources.
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1,635 schools in Cuttack have no electricity
In 2017, it was reported that 1,635 government schools in Cuttack, India, had no electricity connection. This meant that almost 60% of state-run schools in the district lacked access to electricity, impacting the learning environment for students and teachers. Sandhya, a teacher at one of these schools, expressed concern about the difficulty for students to concentrate in stifling classrooms without fans.
The lack of electricity in these schools was attributed to their inaccessibility, presenting a challenge for electrification efforts. To address this issue, the Cuttack project coordinator of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Gadadhar Behera, stated that new school buildings constructed in recent years have been provided with proper electricity supply. Additionally, schools struggling with outstanding electricity bills were encouraged to submit their details to receive assistance in clearing their arrears.
The issue of schools lacking electricity is not unique to Cuttack, as over 37% of schools in India were reported to have no electricity connections as of March 2017. This situation has seen some improvement, with over 89% of schools in India having access to electricity as of 2022. However, it still highlights the need for continued efforts to improve school infrastructure and ensure equitable access to basic amenities for students across the country.
To support electrification in schools, the Indian government has implemented initiatives such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan programmes. Under these programmes, efforts have been made to provide electrification in elementary and secondary schools. As of 2016-17, internal electrification had been provided to 1,87,248 elementary schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme, and 12,930 secondary schools had received electricity under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan programme.
While progress has been made, the disparity in electricity access between states in India is notable. For instance, Jharkhand has lagged behind, with only 19% of its schools having access to electricity as of 2017. In contrast, states and territories like Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Delhi have achieved higher rates of electrification in their schools, with Delhi reaching 99.93% in 2019.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2021, about 37% of schools in India have no electricity. This is an improvement from 2017, when over 37% of schools had no electricity, and 2020, when 40% of government schools had no electricity. In 2022, over 89% of schools in India had access to electricity.
Schools in India lack electricity due to shortfalls in budgetary funding and utilisation, resulting in critical infrastructure gaps. India's electrification policies tend to focus on household electrification, with little emphasis on electrifying schools.
The states with the lowest rates of electrification in schools are Manipur and Madhya Pradesh, where less than 20% of schools have access to electricity. Jharkhand also has a low electrification rate, with just 19% of schools having access to electricity as of 2017.
The lack of electricity in schools in India results in reduced teaching quality and less participation. It also impacts students' ability to concentrate, as classrooms can become stiflingly hot without fans or cooling systems.
To address the lack of electricity in schools, the report "Integrating Electricity Priorities into Healthcare and Education in India: A Review of National and Subnational Policies" recommends that Indian development focuses on sustainable development goals and the country's clean energy transition goal. The parliamentary panel has also recommended that the HRD Ministry collaborate with schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to improve infrastructure and access to renewable energy sources for schools.
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