<br/>The Centre has agreed to sanction solar home lighting systems to below poverty line (BPL) households in about five thousand remote and inaccessible villages of Assam not connected by conventional power grid. Most of these villages are located in riverside, popularly known as ‘char’ areas. Official sources said the Centre has also agreed in principle to support the State Government’s proposal of giving solar lanterns to girl children and woman weavers. This was assured by the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, during a meet with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and senior officials of the State Government. Stressing on the need of proper training to local youths in handling and maintenance of the solar systems, Dr Abdullah agreed to provide necessary funds for operational purposes after installation. Dr Abdullah urged the State Government to put forward proposals for setting up small hydro-electric projects up to 25 MW, which the ministry was funding to the tune of one lakh rupees per 10 KW.