Details

Written by: admin

Category: Activities

Published: 23 January 2023

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Details

Written by: admin

Category: Activities

Published: 23 January 2023

Hits: 290

Details

Written by: admin

Category: Activities

Published: 23 January 2023

Hits: 262

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.

Details

Written by: admin

Category: Activities

Published: 23 January 2023

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Renewable Energy

Of the total villages in the state of Orissa, 55% are connected by grids. Those who are connected by them are disconnected on not paying the tariffs or due to technical problems and maintenance issues.

Under the renewable energy project intervention, our target base of ~ 35000 Self Help Groups across the direct intervention areas is covered. Renewable energy is integrated within the income generation and income augmentation framework under the core micro finance programme.

BISWA’s Renewable Energy Approach is inclusive of the following components:
i. Identification of the Appropriate Technology for the Rural Areas
ii. Contextualising behaviour change in rural areas for Energy Programme
iii. Community Consent and Involvement
iv. Self Help Group and the Village Community
v. Technical Assistance in Operations and Maintenance

Household Lighting Programme
There is a direct implication of the household lighting project with the incremental time for initiating business or enterprise. As such, we have supported the families covered under our operational areas to avail the household solar lighting models through micro finance. We have presently covered 4 Self Help Groups in Bhurudera, Bolbonga, Jogipali and Kakudipali in Maneswar Block of Sambalpur district, Orissa. These villages are located 20-25 kms away from Sambalpur city and 15 kms away from Hirakud Dam, yet these remain beyond the reach of grid electricity.

Caption: Loan Processing and solar lighting device hand over to the SHG members, Bolbonga Village, Sambalpur

BISWA has initiated this programme to ensure that the rural areas where grid is a distant reality, people are able to avail the basic necessity of lighting in their houses at affordable price and with continuity. Solar light system is beneficial in terms of zero recurring expenditure on the households and in providing better illumination as compared to the conventional sources of lighting.
The local practice or availability is of kerosene dibri which has low intensity light and creates smoke in the environment. Women who are exposed majority of the time during cooking and children during study hours to kerosene dibris and lamps are susceptible to respiratory problems as well.
Hence, BISWA envisages through its micro finance product innovation to facilitate marketing of efficient solar and other renewable energy based household lighting systems to the rural poor areas in Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. These systems are ideally placed between Rs.900 to 200 per household with 20% rate of reducing balance interest for 6-12 months as per the SHG affordability analysis.
In an analysis conducted on the data collected from the 20 villages of Maneswar Block, Sambalpur district, it is found that a household spends Rs.100-150 on kerosene and torch batteries and yet is unable to get quality light. Therefore, the same amount can be realized as micro credit pay back amount per month and the household can avail the quality product. BISWA requests Corporates and Individual donors to adopt our SHGs or tribal villages to part subsidize these solar lighting systems to the beneficiary base. We will ensure to provide relevant documents, case studies and fund utilization on timely basis.