UP's Vidyut Sakhi Scheme Empowers 16K Women With Income

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 18 September 2026

In rural Uttar Pradesh, the electricity bill is becoming more than a household expense. Through the Vidyut Sakhi program, women associated with self-help groups are earning income by helping consumers pay their electricity bills, while also supporting last-mile public service delivery.

The program, implemented through the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM) in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), has created a network of women who collect electricity bill payments within their communities. The initiative aims to connect women’s livelihoods with essential public services and provide them with opportunities to participate in the rural economy.

Around 16,000 Vidyut Sakhis are actively engaged in electricity bill collection after recharging their e-wallets, while 31,681 women have been identified for the program across Uttar Pradesh. Together, the women have facilitated the payment of more than 1.53 crore electricity bills, helping collect nearly Rs 3,500 crore in electricity revenue. They have collectively earned approximately Rs 45.4 crore in commissions through the service.

Key Highlights:

• More than 16,000 Vidyut Sakhis are actively collecting electricity bill payments across Uttar Pradesh
• The women have facilitated over 1.53 crore bill payments and earned approximately Rs 45.4 crore in commissions
• The program helps rural women earn locally while improving access to electricity bill payment services

The program takes advantage of the already established self-help group system created with the help of UPSRLM. Each woman is trained and linked with the electricity bill collection system through an e-wallet system, whereby they can receive money, thereby making their transactions and allowing them to apply the knowledge in practice.

The model provides an opportunity for rural women to earn money without leaving their villages. Vidyut Sakhis gain access to employment in their immediate surroundings and can live in their villages or communities and provide the service.

The system in which women work on a commission basis allows women to earn a certain amount of money. With regards to the electricity bills of up to Rs 2,000, Vidyut Sakhis earn Rs 20 for the total paid in rural areas and Rs 12 for the total paid in urban areas. Considering the number of transactions taking place, each commission contributes to the total earnings of the women involved in the same system.

The initiative offers service to electrical consumers as well. In case of rural setup, the common locals might find their way to electricity offices or payment centres in order to pay their bills. However, Vidyut Sakhis being in the community ensures service is available at their doorsteps and saves time and effort involved in making payments.

Thus, the scheme benefits many stakeholders. Women gain a source of income, customers get a local payment mechanism and the electricity department gets another means of revenue collection. The number of bills processed in the network proves the contribution of community service providers in reaching the last mile.

Digital technology is another part of the initiative. Through e-wallets and other digital transactions, Vidyut Sakhis are getting some experience in financial technology and management of transactions, which makes them more prepared for using digital finance further.

The program also shows the new view on economic participation of women via the concept of self-help groups. The livelihoods network could allow women not only to engage in savings and lending, but also be involved in delivery of goods and services, entrepreneurship and other income-generation activities.

The duty involves more than merely collecting electric bills, according to many participants. Vidyut Sakhis interact with households directly, execute transactions, and serve as a link between consumers and the utility company. In this manner, women acquire both practical skills as well as rural exposure for enhanced economic involvement.

The Vidhyat Sakhi program has identified more than thirty-one thousand women and has more than sixteen thousand women actively involved and this shows how livelihood initiatives can promote women’s employment along with public service.