Apr 29, 2006 :: Privatisation at grassroots

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company [BESCOM] has been successful in having its services and collections managed by village level entrepreneurs, known as Gram Vidhyuth Pratinidhi [GVP].

There are 3,425 GVP -many of whom, women- across over 5,000 villages in Karnataka. Average collections have gone up 30% and service quality for consumers has got better. Power theft and bill default have practically disappeared. Villagers don’t have to travel to a nearby town and waste all day to pay their bills - these are collected at their door-steps.

With bonuses and incentives, a GVP can expect to earn Rs 4,500 per month, which is a considerable income in villages.

You can read the full story told at length in the April 24, 2000 issue of Outlook Magazine.