The state government yesterday said it will implement ‘one village, one rural electric manager’ scheme to ensure that problems of the rural population regarding electricity connections are resolved swiftly.

“The scheme will be implemented by the gram panchayats. They will act as the franchisee,” said Maharashtra Power Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule. State Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde was also present at the briefing. As franchisee, the gram panchayats will have the job of meter reading, attending to breakdowns, restoring electricity, maintaining street lights, new electric connections, stopping electricity connection for non-payment of arrears.