The Hindu Business Line : NGOs bring light into tribal homes

IN an effort to make a difference to people living in the remote tribal tracts of the country, where there is no electricity, a consortium of non-government agencies (NGOs) have begun deploying an unconventional light-emitting-diode based lighting systems.

This lighting system, based on a technology developed by Prof Dave Irvine-Halliday, a Canadian researcher, which has been modified to suit Indian requirements, is being assembled by women self-help groups. It would be deployed in about 3,000 villages as a pilot initiative, supported by the Ministry of Tribal Welfare.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the Special Chief Secretary and Director General, EPTRI (Environment Protection Training and Research Institute), Ms C.R. Gayathri, said, "We are now in the process of implementing this in about 3,000 tribal villages in the State. This has the potential of being replicated in other parts of the country, and we are hopeful that the Department of Non-Conventional Energy could possibly look at this to expand its scope."

Prof Halliday said that this system can bypass the problem of an electricity grid. Besides, it has a lasting life. These were successfully tested in tsunami-affected areas.

Typically, the system provides two lights, one torch, backed with a six or 12-volt battery, and depending upon requirement could cost about Rs 1,500, along with a solar panel. But the cost can be brought down with more systems.

This consortium consists of Satyam Foundation, an arm of Satyam Computer Services Ltd, EPTRI, and Mahila Sanatkar of Cova.

The consortium offers management and marketing support to self-help groups of poor women in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad who will secure sustainable livelihoods by assembling the lighting systems and improving on present models.

The locally manufactured, low-cost systems would enable tribal and dalit cooperatives to purchase them for members without the need for any subsidy. Lt Col T.S. Surendra of the BV Raju Institute of Technology, a World-Bank designated national resource person for renewable energy, will offer technical support. Dr U. Balaji of the Satyam Foundation offered necessary technology support.

Over 100 systems have been installed in hamlets in the Nallamalla forests by ThinkSoft Consultants and there is a clamour for many more of these lighting systems.

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