Berhampur:TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) has entrusted electricity bill collection job to 379 Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) across five districts — creating a silent revolution that blends empowerment, accountability, inclusive growth, and digital progress.
What began as a small pilot has now grown into a dynamic model of rural partnership. These 379 women, representing 379 SHGs, operate across Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Boudh, and Kandhamal districts. Ganjam alone leads with 291 SHGs, followed by Gajapati (63), Rayagada (15), Boudh (8) and Kandhamal (2). Each group is a story of transformation — of homemakers turned professionals, of rural women becoming trusted agents of change in their own communities.The impact of their involvement has been both measurable and inspiring. In the last three years, collection coverage in rural areas has surged from 67 percent to 80 percent, while collection efficiency has risen dramatically — from 82 percent to 105 percent. Equally striking is the digital shift these women have led: from just 2,000 consumers making digital bill payments three years ago, the number has now climbed to around 15,000 per month by the WSHGs.
These women, many of whom learned digital transactions through TPSODL’s Digital Literacy initiatives, are making villages financially connected and technologically aware.Today, SHGs collectively handle an average monthly collection of about ₹6 crore, contributing directly to the financial stability of the power distribution system in Southern Odisha.
