OVERVIEW
An individual’s inability to access electricity is one of the defining indicators of poverty in a country. Electricity allows access to better education and the opportunity for industry and business to flourish. But according to World Bank figures, approximately 200 million people in India lack access to electricity. Majority of rural India relies on kerosene and other fuels to meet their lighting needs, which is hazardous to both, their health and to the environment. Moreover, inadequate lighting makes it hard for children to study and makes medical aid inaccessible at night.
In an effort to provide a clean and affordable lighting solution to rural India, our “Light a Home” project was born. Our Program aims to take clean and affordable lighting to 360 million people in India living in 74 million rural households. These houses have no access to electricity. SSRDP provides high-quality and cost effective Solar Lanterns, Home Lighting Systems and Solar Cookers, distributed through Solar Centers across India. These Centres are operated and managed by local ‘Yuvacharyas’ trained specifically under the initiative.
OUR GOALS
Access to Cost-effective, Renewable and Uninterrupted energy
Impacting Lives by Lighting Home
Improving Health and Safety conditions.
Mobilizing and Uniting Communities towards a common Solution
Empowering local community, leading towards Increased Economic activity
Enabling Education among Rural Children, promoting Socio-Economic development.
Inspiring Community Youth leaders towards Sustainable execution
Make access to medical aid possible even at night
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION – LAST MILE ENERGY ACCESS INITIATIVE
SOLAR LANTERN DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
SSRDP under Light a Home Program started an initiative of distribution of solar lanterns in remote villages since 2012. We have served villages where people haven’t seen light after sunset in remote terrain places and take support of kerosene lamp or wood fire. Also serving in emergency conditions in disaster relief work caused by flood, cyclone, earthquake, etc.
SOLAR BATTERY CHARGING STATION
Understanding the need for uninterrupted and continuous usage of the solar systems installed, SSRDP realised the need for an entrepreneur development program in solar. Where the entrepreneur is responsible to maintain the battery charging station and its system health for sustainable maintenance of Solar panels system in the village in return will collect fixed marginal charges for the services.
SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM AT SCHOOLS
Understanding the need for primary education and challenges in rural areas SSRDP provides solar energy to un-electrified Schools and Anganwadi’s where the students and teachers could spend quality time for quality education. To further improve the education infrastructure in the remote villages, we provide multimedia computer, Desktop PC, e-learning suite, e-library along with the solar energy power plant to ensure quality education.
SOLAR RURAL VILLAGE ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM
As a part of Rural Development Program and considering the holistic development goals of the villages SSRDP has started making Solar Micro Grids with electrification of each households at village with 2-3 LED lights and Fan with mobile charging port. Also, provided rice de-husk machine and agriculture water pump which runs on solar energy to increase their farm produce and add economic value.
SOLAR DUAL WATER PUMP COMMUNITY DRINKING WATER
As a part of rural development initiative, villages which are completely dependent on safe drinking water and community water supply in support with local government/ CSR, SSRDP bridges the gap and provides technical support by installing Solar Dual water pumps in areas with utmost need.
SOLAR STREET LIGHT FOR COMMUNITY
SSRDP provides technological driven and highly efficient solar street lights for community usage, where street light automatically turns on during the dusk and turns off in dawn with energy saving mechanism. Due to its integrated design there is no chance of battery theft and locals are trained for the maintenance of the system.
OUR EXECUTION MODEL
COORDINATION WITH LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS
All Relevant district, state & national government agencies are consulted and Involved to kick start the Project. This ensures coordination between key-partners and local stakeholders especially in sensitive rural villages so that our vision is cordial
COMMUNITY RAPPORT BUILDING AND SENSITISATION
Village level meetings are conducted to Introduce Project plans to local leaders and stakeholders, and simultaneously gather their inputs. Nav Chetna Shivir and Bal Chetna Shivir (NCS/BCS) specialised community courses of The Art of Living to share Human values and belongingness that leads to a peaceful society with an attitude of selfless service.
LOCAL CAPACITY BUILDING
Considerable amount of village representatives especially the local youth undertake Youth Leadership Program (YLTP). A wide spectrum of in-depth training with regard to their physical, mental and emotional development equipping them to deal with any challenging situation effortlessly. After successful completion of the programme, they would become Village Yuvacharyas who will be an aid during the installation of solar panels.
CREATING RURAL MANAGERS
A group of exceptional Yuvacharyas are selected to participate in a Rural Managers Training Programme (RMTP). They would be equipped with techniques that help them identify community problems, train them in good documentation skills required for monitoring and evaluation of projects.
SETTING UP SOLAR MICRO GRIDS
SSRDP designs and develops service-specific micro grids dedicated to providing household lighting and mobile phone charging. The design requires 90% less solar power generation capacity per customer compared to traditional solar powered micro grids.