In the Governor’s address on 03.06.2011 in the Legislative Assembly, it was announced that “This Government will launch a ‘Solar Powered Green House Scheme’ for the benefit of the poor in the rural areas and construct houses measuring about 300 square feet at a unit cost of Rs.1.80 lakh by meeting the entire cost by the State  Government”. 

Accordingly, this Government had ordered for construction of 60,000 Solar Powered Green Houses of 300 square feet each, every year for the next five years commencing from 2011-12 at a unit cost of Rs.1.80 lakhs per house.  The scheme is named as “Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme (CMSPGHS).”

Construction of houses under “Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme” ordered by the Honourable Chief Minister is another milestone in the history of rural housing which clearly addresses the  shelter needs in rural areas. Nowhere in the country is such a free housing scheme for the construction of houses with an area of 300 sq.ft with solar powered lighting implemented.

2.1 Salient features of the Scheme

• All the people living below poverty line in rural areas are eligible for Solar Powered Green Houses.
• Each house is built with an area of 300 square feet at a unit cost of Rs.1.80 lakh fully funded by the State Government.
• Each house consists of a living room, bed room, kitchen, toilet and verandah apart from Rain Water Harvesting provision.
• Each house is provided with 5 solar powered Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), one each in bed room, living room, kitchen, toilet and verandah.  Each beneficiary is given the option to have an electric connection powered by TNEB, which will be metered.
• The unit cost is Rs.1.80 lakh per house @Rs.1.50 lakh for construction and Rs.30,000/- for Solar Powered Lights.
• The RD & PR Department is entrusted with the construction of houses and Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) is the implementing agency for solar lighting component.
• The Green Houses are constructed either insitu (replacing his/her existing dwelling structure) or in the land owned by the beneficiary elsewhere in the Village Panchayat.  No land acquisition is envisaged under this scheme.  Only people with patta for their sites are eligible under this scheme.
• The supply, installation and commissioning of solar panels and lights are undertaken directly by TEDA by following established procedures in      co-ordination with the Project Directors of District Rural Development Agencies.

2.2 Type design and unit cost

• Each house shall be constructed with a maximum plinth area of 300 sq.ft at a unit cost of Rs.1.80 lakh.  The houses will be built with a living room, bed room, kitchen and a toilet.  Wherever possible, the toilet shall be constructed by dovetailing funds from the Total Sanitation Campaign.  Rain Water Harvesting Structure shall be provided in all the houses.  The Solar powered lighting system shall be installed by TEDA in co-ordination with the District officials.
• An exclusive type design for this Scheme has been developed and the construction of houses should not exceed the permissible limit of 300 sq.ft.  To ensure uniformity in the design, no change of type design is normally permitted.
• However, changes in type design, such as shifting of kitchen room or bedroom to another direction, etc., shall be permitted without altering the total plinth area of 300 sq.ft.
• The logo for this scheme printed on ceramic tiles shall be affixed visibly on all the houses as shown in the design. 
• The name of the scheme, beneficiary’s name and year of construction shall be painted prominently on each completed house.

2.3 Installation of Solar Powered Home Lighting System

The following modalities shall be followed in the installation, operation and maintenance of solar powered lights:-

• Each house shall have 5 CFL lights through Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) System.
• The internal wiring will be done as part of the civil construction.  TEDA will do up to the change over including the installation of the change over switch.
• There shall be a 5 year warranty period inclusive of Comprehensive  Maintenance Contract (CAMC) period for the systems supplied,  based on the rates quoted.  The suppliers should set up District level/ Block level Service Centres.  A District level Helpline shall also be installed by the supplier/manufacturer.
• The amount of Rs.30,000/- per house for SPV Home lighting system will be drawn by the Commissioner of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj and deposited with TEDA.  The subsidy amount eligible for the solar lighting system shall be claimed by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GOI and remitted to Government of Tamil Nadu account.  TEDA will facilitate claim of the subsidy from MNRE.
• Any savings and interest accrued by TEDA while implementing the Scheme shall be remitted to the Government of Tamil Nadu account.
• Tenders shall be floated by TEDA as per Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998.
• TEDA shall bring out Brochures/Hand outs and other training materials on the usage and maintenance of the SPV equipments.  A Hand out on Dos and Don’ts should also be prepared by TEDA in the local language and distributed to the beneficiaries.
• Training Modules shall be prepared by TEDA to train the Panchayat Presidents, Panchayat Secretaries, select SHG Members and other local functionaries deemed fit, so that they can serve as effective interface between the beneficiaries and suppliers.

2.4  Execution of Works
          The erection and commissioning agencies shall be responsible for 5 years warranty inclusive of comprehensive maintenance contract.  TEDA will station one AEE/AE and one Junior Assistant cum Computer Operator at each DRDA who will liaise with the Project Director, DRDA for day to day coordination and supervision. The PD, DRDA shall provide TEDA a room in DRDA for housing TEDA unit.
2.5   Quality Control & Inspection
          TEDA will engage Project Management Consultants (PMC) and a third party inspection agency, whose responsibility is to ensure that all the materials used and the workmanship practiced conform to the prescribed specifications.  The inspection will cover quality checks of major materials at pre-shipment stage at the vendor’s outlet.
          The PMC will ensure that 100% of the lights are installed after inspection.  Any defect in the SPV Home Lighting System will be brought to the notice of TEDA by the beneficiary/ Panchayat/ Block/ District Administration for immediate rectification.
          In case the quality check reveals that the work is not satisfactory, the implementing agency (TEDA) shall ensure replacement of  the material or rectification of the defective workmanship, as the case may be, within the stipulated time.  All works rated unsatisfactory shall be re-inspected after the rectification report is received from the contractor.  Funds will be released to the commissioning agencies only after receiving satisfactory inspection reports. TEDA will designate an appropriate senior officer as incharge of the Monitoring system.

2.6. Maintenance of the System

          As part of the tender, the commissioning agencies shall be responsible to train the beneficiaries as well as 4 SHG members in each Panchayat to do regular maintenance.

2.7. State Empowered Committee

          The State Empowered Committee constituted by the Government under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu with the following members will sanction the projects, including revised costs estimates, monitor and review the implementation of the Scheme in addition to issuing necessary guidelines from time to time for effective implementation of the Scheme.  This Committee will also approve the technical specifications and the tender documents, and will recommend the final bid price to the appropriate authority for acceptance.
CMD, TEDA- Member, Secretary
Principal Secretary, Energy Department
Principal Secretary, RD&PR Department
Principal Secretary, Finance Department
Commissioner, Directorate of RD&PR
Chairman, TANTRANSCO
Dr. Giridhar, CWET
Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Chairman RTBI, IIT Madras

2.8. Funds release and Subsidy Claim

          The Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj will draw the funds and release the same to TEDA.  Funds to the companies shall be released based on the progress of installation.  Final payment should be made only after the satisfactory completion of the work, duly getting a certificate relating to completion from the competent authority of TEDA. TEDA will facilitate the RD & PR Department in obtaining the subsidy from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India for reimbursing to the State Government. 

2.9. Warranty

TEDA should ensure the norms for good quality as per the approved standards of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).  There should be warranty for each item such as solar panel, battery, etc.  which is to be taken care in the agreement itself.  The SPV lighting system will have a warranty of two years.  Further, the rate for Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC) will be called for another 3 years (beyond 2 years warranty period)  through tendering process.  Depending on the rates quoted and the funds available, the number of years for CAMC will be finalized by TEDA.

2.10 Facilitation and Co-ordination by District Administration

• The list of Village Panchayats selected along with the details of houses where SPV Home Lighting Systems are to be installed should be communicated to TEDA well in advance.
• Coordination should be maintained with Project Management Consultant appointed by TEDA through District Managers of TEDA, for the installation of SPV Home Lighting Systems.
• The full address and contact phone numbers of the manufacturers / suppliers / installation and commissioning contractors (AMC holders) should be made available at the District level, Block level and at the Village Panchayat level by TEDA for easy and effective communication at times of need.

2.11. Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC)

          The warranty and the Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC) entered with TEDA on behalf of the beneficiaries will be handed over to the beneficiaries after successful installation.

2.12  Eligibility of the Beneficiaries

The beneficiary should:

• Reside within the Village Panchayat
• Find a place in the BPL permanent wait list of the Village Panchayat;
• Own a site of not less than 300 sq.ft. area
• Have clear patta for the site/house in the name of the head of the family or any other member of the household
• Not own any other pucca concrete house in the village or elsewhere
• Not have been benefited under any other housing scheme of the Government.

2.12.1 Mode of Selection of Beneficiaries

• A permanent wait list of BPL for each Village Panchayat should be drawn and the poorest of the poor should be selected.
• While preparing the list of beneficiaries, priority should be given to differently abled, widows, destitute and deserted women, women headed families, transgender, HIV/AIDS/TB affected who are certified by the Deputy Director (Health Services) concerned and victims of natural calamities such as fire, flood, etc.  Priority shall also be given to households having a mentally challenged person in the family.
• Any eligible poor person whose name does not figure in the BPL list can apply to the Block Development Officer and an Assistant Director level officer of RD&PR Department may verify the fact and with the concurrence of District Collector, his name may be included in the BPL list and approval of Grama Sabha shall be obtained for the same.  In the event of inclusion, his/her name will become a part of the permanent wait list and considered for selection accordingly.
• The Village Panchayat should draw a list of eligible beneficiaries living below poverty line under this scheme and place it before the Grama Sabha for its approval.

2.12.2  Selection of the Beneficiaries

         From the list of eligible beneficiaries, a Committee comprising of Block Development Officer (Village Panchayats), Deputy Block Development Officer and Village Panchayat President concerned shall select the genuine BPL beneficiary as per guidelines and the final list of selected beneficiaries identified by the Committee should be placed before the Grama Sabha for its approval.

2.13  Allocation of Houses

• At the State level, the Commissioner of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj shall allocate the number of houses to be constructed under this Scheme for each district in a year.
• At the District level, the District Collector shall decide the allotment of houses to the Village Panchayats.
• The Village Panchayats should allocate the houses to the selected beneficiaries based on the priority category of people found in the BPL Permanent Wait List approved by the Grama Sabha.

2.14. Issue of Work Order

          The Block Development Officer (BP) should issue the work order to the beneficiaries after confirming the eligibility of beneficiaries with reference to title and site by the officials of RD &PR Department.

2.15  Marking of Site

          The concerned Union Overseer of a particular Village Panchayat shall mark the site as per the type design approved by the Government for commencement of work.

2.16   Supply of Materials

Cement
          At the State level, necessary steps will be taken to ensure smooth supply of cement for construction of houses at Village Panchayats.  Cement supply shall be arranged through M/s. TANCEM and the payment may be made by the DRDA at District level and the amount will be adjusted from the scheme fund.

Steel
          Similarly, Project Directors of DRDAs should take necessary steps to procure steel based on the needs of their district and payment will be made by the DRDAs at District level and the amount will be adjusted from the scheme fund.

Doors and Windows
          Beneficiaries themselves can arrange for doors and windows. If the beneficiary is unable to arrange for doors and windows, the PD,DRDA should arrange for supply of the same and the cost will be deducted from the scheme fund .
          For all the above procurements, the PDs of DRDA should work out the total quantity of materials needed for their district based on the number of houses allocated to them.

2.17  Mode of Implementation

• Administrative sanction for the scheme based on the district allocation for each year shall be accorded by the District Collector.
• The execution of the scheme is entrusted to the BDO (Block Panchayat).
• The Block Engineers shall be responsible for the construction and other technical aspects of construction. The Assistant Executive Engineers shall check measure the progress of the houses.
• The Project Directors, DRDA, Executive Engineers and Assistant Executive Engineers (RD) should frequently inspect the execution and progress of the houses and ensure early completion. They should also ensure no deviation from the type design or any other discrepancies under this scheme.

 2.18  Documentation

          Photographs exhibiting the beneficiary positioned in front of the house in which they reside at present shall be taken.  The same process has to be repeated after completion of the house. These processes have to be documented by the Block Development Officer (BP) before making final payment.  Out of the fund allocated for the scheme, 1% is earmarked for documentation and other Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities.

2.19  Monitoring

          The District Collector will review the progress of the construction of houses as well as the installation of SPV Home Lighting System with the Block officials and the Officials of TEDA. Nodal Officers in the cadre of Assistant Director must be appointed by the District Collector to supervise the works.  The District Collector and the Project Director, District Rural Development Agency are the Officers responsible for the proper implementation of the Scheme at the District level and TEDA at the State level for the installation of SPV Home Lighting Systems.

2.20   Release of funds

• The Commissioner of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj is authorized to draw the annual allocation for CMSPGHS in two half-yearly instalments.  The fund in turn will be released to the districts at the rate of Rs.1,50,000/- per house.  The balance amount at the rate of Rs.30,000/- per house shall be deposited with Chairman & Managing Director, TEDA for the purchase and installation of materials relating to Solar Powered Lighting System.  The DRDA shall release the funds directly to the respective Village Panchayats.  The funds should not be routed through the Blocks.
• A separate Savings Bank Account at District Headquarters shall be opened exclusively for CMSPGHS in the name of District Collector/ Chairman, DRDA.  There shall be only one CMSPGHS Savings Bank Account at the district level.
• In the Village Panchayats where the CMSPGHS is implemented, a sixth account, namely, ‘Village Panchayat CMSPGHS Account’ shall be operated.  The mode of operation of Village Panchayat CMSPGHS Scheme Account is described as under:
•  Mode of Operation:  The above account shall be operated jointly by the President and Vice-President of the Village Panchayats as is done for the Village Panchayat Fund Accounts concerned.  However, Collectors should instruct all the concerned bank branches in writing to make suitable ledger/computer entries to honour the cheques signed by the President and Vice-President of the Village Panchayat only if they are accompanied by the release order in the form of proceedings of the BDO (BP) for the payment of works from the Village Panchayat CMSPGHS Account concerned.  The cheque leaf should also be stamped with “To be paid only if accompanied by proceedings of the BDO (Block Panchayat)”.  No self-cheques or drawals based on withdrawal forms are to be permitted for this account.
• The Government is empowered to amend these guidelines based on the exigencies that may arise from time to time.

2.21 Implementation of CMSPGHS

          From the year 2011-12 to 2015-16, 3,00,000 houses have been taken up at a total estimated cost of Rs.5,940 crore under Chief Minister's Solar Powered Green House Scheme (CMSPGHS)