The Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) Scheme is a government initiative designed to help people save electricity and reduce their electricity bills. The goal of the scheme is to provide affordable and energy-efficient LED bulbs, tube lights, and ceiling fans to households across India. By encouraging the use of LED lights, the government aims to reduce overall energy consumption and promote sustainability.
Earlier, this scheme was called the Domestic Efficient Lighting Program (DELP), but it was later rebranded as UJALA to increase awareness and adoption. Today, millions of households benefit from this initiative, making LED lights a common and affordable choice for lighting homes.
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the UJALA scheme, including who is eligible, how to apply, pricing details, payment options, warranty policies, and how to register complaints.
Objectives of the UJALA Scheme
The UJALA scheme was launched with several important goals:
- Promoting Energy Efficiency: Encouraging the use of LED lights, which consume much less electricity than traditional bulbs.
- Reducing Electricity Bills: Helping people save money by switching to more energy-efficient lighting solutions.
- Creating Awareness: Informing the public about the benefits of using energy-saving appliances.
- Lowering Appliance Costs: Making LED bulbs, tube lights, and fans more affordable by increasing demand and production.
- Protecting the Environment: Reducing the carbon footprint by cutting down on electricity wastage.
- Enhancing Energy Security: Lowering overall electricity consumption to ensure better energy availability across the country.
Who Can Apply for the UJALA Scheme?
If you have a valid electricity connection in India, you are eligible to apply for the UJALA scheme. This means that any household with a metered electricity connection from their local electricity provider can buy LED bulbs, tube lights, and fans under this scheme.
Required Documents
To purchase these appliances under the UJALA scheme, you need to provide the following:
- Two passport-size photographs
- A photocopy of your Aadhaar card (Original Aadhaar card must be carried for verification)
- A copy of your latest electricity bill (The address on the Aadhaar card should match the address on the electricity bill)
These documents are required to keep track of the distribution and prevent misuse of the scheme.
Price List and Purchase Limits Under UJALA
The UJALA scheme offers energy-saving appliances at highly discounted prices. Under this scheme, each household can purchase up to 10 LED bulbs at a price of ₹70 per bulb, 2 LED tube lights at ₹220 per tube light, and 1 ceiling fan for ₹1,110. These affordable prices make it easier for households to switch to energy-efficient lighting solutions, significantly reducing electricity consumption and costs.
How to Buy Appliances Under UJALA
There are two ways to pay for these appliances:
- EMI Payment: The cost of the appliance is added to your electricity bill, and you can pay in small monthly or bi-monthly installments.
- Full Payment Upfront: You can also choose to pay the full amount at the time of purchase at designated kiosks or distribution centers.
Both options ensure that people from different financial backgrounds can afford energy-efficient products.
Warranty and Replacement Policy
To ensure customer satisfaction, the UJALA scheme offers a one-year warranty on LED bulbs, tube lights, and fans. If an LED bulb or tube light stops working due to a technical defect within the warranty period, it will be replaced free of cost.
Consumers can visit authorized replacement kiosks to get their defective products exchanged. These kiosks are set up across different states, and you can check for state-specific replacement drives to find the nearest replacement center.
How to Register a Complaint
If you face any issues with the appliances purchased under the UJALA scheme, you can register a complaint through various channels:
- EESL India Support Page: Visit the official Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) website and submit your complaint.
- Helpline Number: Call 1800-180-3580 to talk to a customer support representative.
- Email Support: Send a detailed email describing your issue along with your contact details to info@eesl.co.in.
- Twitter Support: Tweet your complaint to the official EESL Twitter handle for a quick response.
- UJALA Mobile Application: Use the UJALA mobile app to register your complaint and track its status.
These multiple support options ensure that consumer complaints are resolved quickly and efficiently.
The Impact of the UJALA Scheme
Since its launch, the UJALA scheme has had a significant impact on India’s energy consumption. Some of the major achievements of this initiative include:
1. Widespread Use of LED Bulbs: Millions of households have switched to LED lighting, reducing dependency on traditional incandescent bulbs that consume more power.
2. Lower Electricity Bills: LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy than regular bulbs, helping consumers save a substantial amount on their electricity bills.
3. Energy Conservation: The scheme has helped save millions of kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, reducing the burden on power plants and decreasing carbon emissions.
4. Job Creation: The increased demand for LED bulbs and tube lights has created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, sales, and distribution sectors.
5. Global Recognition: India’s UJALA scheme has been praised globally for its large-scale implementation and success in promoting energy efficiency.
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite its success, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed to improve the scheme further:
- Lack of Awareness: Many rural households are still unaware of the benefits of the scheme.
- Supply Chain Issues: Ensuring timely supply and availability of appliances in remote areas is a challenge.
- Expanding the Product Range: The scheme can be improved by including more energy-efficient products like refrigerators and air conditioners.
Going forward, the government aims to introduce smart lighting solutions, improve distribution efficiency, and involve private companies to make the scheme even more effective.
Conclusion
The Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme has transformed the way Indian households use electricity. By offering LED bulbs, tube lights, and fans at affordable prices, the scheme has helped millions of people reduce their electricity bills and contribute to a greener environment.
If you haven’t yet taken advantage of this scheme, now is the perfect time to switch to energy-efficient appliances and help India move towards a sustainable and energy-secure future.