Lighting rural lives through Solar Power

Up to a one third of India’s population, close to 400 million people, are not connected to the national grid, leaving them cut off from the development, progress and opportunity that electricity represents. Many of them live here in the crowded northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on the plains of the Ganges River. Data from the Ministry of Power shows that all villages of Uttar Pradesh, except two, are electrified. However, around 50 per cent of rural households in the state are still un-electrified. The findings of a survey done by CEEW (Council for Energy, Environment and Water) highlights that 71 per cent of unelectrified rural households in Uttar Pradesh live in habitations with grid electricity. For them the main barriers to adopting connections were the steep upfront cost, high recurring payments and unreliable supply of electricity.

In this scenario, Shramik Bharti is promoting Renewable Energy as most effective solution towards improving access to cleaner energy in poorly electrified areas and remote villages and to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change as well. The Integrated Solar Home Lighting Systems that comprises Forced Draft Biomass Cookstove, three solar light points and a mobile charger and Street Lights installed with the support of HDFC Bank in the villages of Uttar Pradesh are lightening the Lives of marginalized communities. The beneficiary selection was done in a democratic way; in open village meetings where the most marginalized households were identified and selected by the community members with a focus on household having children studying in government schools.

It has made the life much easier for the beneficiary families especially of women & children as they were the worst sufferer of indoor air pollution caused by smoke of traditional cook stoves and kerosene lamps. Malari is resident of Kamariya village of Niyamtabad Block of Chandauli. She is widow having 4 children and her mother-in-law as her dependents. Her family is very poor and they cannot afford to have LPG and electricity connections to meet their fuel and lighting needs. She used to light kerosene lamp for lighting purpose and was using \’chullah\’ for cooking food that used to give lots of hazardous smoke. During an Open meeting Malari shared “I get 1 liter kerosene oil that fulfills our need for just 10 days. My children cannot study”.