|
New Delhi: New Keringa is a model village in Southern Orissa, India, with 47 families. It is distinct, not because it is in the news. It is the story of a participatory democracy as the adage seems more fitting that “an idea can change your life”. It is an excellent example of empowered masses of a tiny hamlet in Orissa who have defied challenges to make it happen.
It is the first village in Orissa to be lit by solar energy, thanks to the unique joint initiative of ‘D light and Beyond Solar’, an American nonprofit with Southern Orissa Volunteer Association (SOVA), a local NGO that has sponsored the solar installations. D.light has pioneered innovative light designs cheap enough to be affordable for poor families who are just making a meager income. The story unfolds the grim reality faced by people living in distant rural areas and this experience opens a world of opportunities for the 1.6 billion people around the world who don't have access to electricity or good sources of light, and the majority of them use kerosene lanterns and stoves, which are both hazardous and create air pollution.
Most of the rural households in New Keringa are on the brinks of extinction due to paucity of employment opportunities, poverty and economic backwardness. Literacy is at the lowest ebb and these tribal people are forced to sustain their livelihood from nature. Most of the villagers crush rocks all day to earn a living. They also make plates out of banana leaves that are sold at the market. These people are alienated from the mainstream, lack the basic infrastructure and the roads to development has been abysmal. Marred by the contradictions of a civilized society, families living in this area are amongst the poorest in India, with an average monthly income of 600-700 rupees. Families use kerosene for lighting lanterns and cooking food. Their plight witnessed a phenomenal makeover, kudos to the concerted efforts of D.light that came up with an alternative solution to rekindle the livelihood of the entire village.
The company in sync with an NGO initiated trials of D.light Novas in the sample village (New Keringa). The Nova uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide up to 40 hours of light on a single charge. Initially, the task was challenging as the first step was to educate the folks about the product and instill confidence. Communication was another barrier that...
More from Infrastructure
| Single Page Format | 1 - 2 - Next |
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
 |
 |
 |
About Us | Contact Us | Advertisers | Site Map | Make us your homepage | Work for Us | RSS | Subscribe | Electronic Edition | Privacy Policy© 2009: The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved throughout the world
