Agartala: The Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) has been awarded the Silver Medal at the 105th SKOCH Awards for 2025 for its solar-powered microgrid projects implemented in remote tribal areas of the state, officials said.
The award was presented at a ceremony held in New Delhi and was conferred by Sameer Kochhar, Chairman and Managing Director of the SKOCH Group. The recognition was given under the national welfare category for initiatives contributing to inclusive development, officials associated with the project said.
According to officials, the award acknowledges TREDA’s work in providing electricity to remote and hilly tribal habitations in the North Eastern region where extension of conventional power infrastructure is either not viable or difficult due to terrain and distance. Many of these areas had remained without reliable electricity for decades, affecting access to education, healthcare and livelihoods.
The solar microgrid projects were implemented under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DEVINE) scheme of the Central Government in partnership with the Tripura government. As part of the initiative, 274 solar microgrids with capacities ranging from 2 kilowatt to 25 kilowatt have been installed, covering 274 villages across 247 remote tribal habitations.
Officials said the total installed capacity of the projects is around 3 megawatt, benefiting 9,762 households. The total expenditure incurred on the project is Rs 81.02 crore.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary household has been provided with four LED lights and one mobile charging point. Solar-powered streetlights have also been installed to illuminate village roads and public spaces.
Field assessments conducted during implementation showed that several of the habitations are located 15 to 20 kilometres from the nearest accessible point, making grid connectivity difficult. In areas with partial grid access, frequent power disruptions, particularly during the monsoon and pre-monsoon periods, had affected daily activities, officials said.
Officials noted that the availability of solar power has enabled children to study after sunset and allowed traditional livelihood activities such as bamboo weaving and handloom work to continue during evening hours. Small shops have also been able to operate after dark, while street lighting has improved night-time mobility in villages.
The SKOCH Awards are given annually to recognise projects contributing to governance, inclusive growth and social development, officials said.