This article provides an in-depth review of rural electrification efforts in India; specifically it deals with the limitations of the definition of village electrification and the quantitative dilemma between village and household electrification. However, this article revolves around three main claims about Maharashtra’s first community bio-mass rural electrification project at Lonarwadi village in western Maharashtra: (a) The project has mainly benefited both the rural middle and below poverty line (BPL) class people. (b) Bio-mass electricity plays a modest role in supporting economically productive and education-related activities, particularly it reduces the everyday drudgery and pressure on women, but ‘connective’ applications such as television, radio and cellular telephone charging often receive a higher priority. (c) Bio-mass electrification is more closely tied to indoor lighting, education, health and increased television use, more rural-urban communication. Finally, it also shows the appropriate renewable technology movement and management for sustainable development.