Lighting A Billion Lives Campaign In Remote Villages Of Sundarban

At places where there is no electricity, the project is unveiling Dreams of villagers and students of Kankandighi and Nagendrapur-Panchayets under the Block, Mathurapur-II in South 24Parganas.

Mukti in collaboration with TERI, Bangiya Parishad Qatar and Mukti Qatar has started a successful campaign towards bringing solar based lighting into the lives of the rural masses in Sundarban area of West Bengal through establishing sustainable model for distribution of solar lanterns to villagers at very low cost for replacing kerosene consumotion. Use of solar lanterns have found enormous potential in these areas as they are very low cost (Expenditure on lighting is just Rs 60 per month instead of Rs 280 pm which was being spent on kerosene previously). It is environmental friendly due to replacement of kerosene leads to reduction in carbon di oxide and carbon monoxide emission in the environment. The model is giving the villagers access to solar lighting devices that not only provide high quality light and smoke –free indoor environment but also reduce consumption of Kerosene and other fossil fuels for lighting purpose. The project is being spearheaded in the said villages by the chief coordinator of the project Ms Koel Ghorai.

Recently a project survey conducted to analyze the impact created on the lives of the users has brought out some very interesting facts. The villagers (consumers) have taken to the solar lantern really well. There is a good reduction in kerosene consumption among families. Students can study for more hours and housewives can work on handicraft work for more hours getting more income. Shop owners are finding it easier to run business late hours in the evening and increasing revenues.

The demand has increased manifold among the villagers and the sustainable model has been able to generate employment for rural entrepreneurs in those villages.
What we have observed that the solar lights are used for multiple uses, such as:
– 3-4 boys and girls can study collectively in one solar lamp
– Use light at the time of Dinner collectively
– Use light at the time of cooking, bathing and house hold activities
– Use of light by housewives for working on handicraft projects

So, if solar lights are not used then a family unit needs three kerosene lamps every day for a regular family chores which is not cost effective.and does not give sufficient light as well.

Case study: One
Name: Janmenjoy Mandal (Running a shop)
Place : Purbasridharpurv
Used in Month- Four months
Rent of Solar light per day-Rs 2.00
Availability-regular, easy and good
His feedback: Solar light is very much useful for my small business. I can keep my shop open for longer hours and thus get more income at the end of the day. So far, I didn’t face any difficulty in connection with solar light services supported by Mukti.

Overall feedback: The villagers are happy and satisfied with the services that they are receiving from the solar nodal charging stations through the nodal centre coordinators. There is a huge demand of solar lantern system in neighboring villages as well.