TERI
TERI - Lighting a Billion Lives
It is estimated that about 110 million Indian families still depend on unsafe and unclean kerosene oil for their lighting purpose on the eve of 21stcentury. Lighting in rural areas of India is primarily based on grid electricity in addition to kerosene. In India, though almost 85% of the total 5,87,268 villages have been electrified through the extension of grid electricity, only 30% of the rural households have electricity connections. Owing to severe power shortages throughout the country, electricity supply is frequently not available during evening hours when lighting is most needed. In this scenario almost all the rural households partially or fully depend on kerosene for lighting. Thus, there is an immediate need to provide sustainable lighting to the rural households.
The Energy and Resources Institute, TERI, an independent not-for-profit organization focusing on energy, environment and sustainable development is undertaking the ‘Lighting a Billion Lives’ (LaBL) campaign through the use of clean energy technologies in association with BISWA that will undertake implementation and execution of the activities in Orissa. BISWA is developing viable enterprise based models for delivery of clean energy products and services in the selected four villages of Sambalpur district which still remain untouched by electricity:
- Bolbanga
- Kakudipali
- Ankadihi
- Turibahal
The issues of current energy scenario, lesser use of fossilized fuels and more emphasis on green fuels are the major thrust areas of this project. These new generation cost-effective solar lanterns will be a boon to rural households where, after dark, carrying on any sort of work is practically impossible. Especially affected are women and students who find it difficult to work and study. It is therefore ideal for children to read&write, portable light for farmers to go about their daily rituals after sunset, light for women to brighten up their dwellings.