Solar Workshop - Andhra Pradesh

InMaLanka has elaborated a program of access to light through solar energy. Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof of the house of a solar entrepreneur in the village. Connected to junction boxes, they are used to load solar lanterns. Villagers can rent a lantern at a lower cost to the entrepreneur. The material is provided by our organisations. During the first year the entrepreneur, selected on various criteria by InMaLanka and its partner, is supervised on financial management and trained to maintain the lanterns. At the end of the year, NGOs leave but keep their position as adviser and operates a regularly monitor of the program. The entrepreneur is free to maintain her/his project in the actual state or to extend it, the initial material remaining the property of the NGOs. This program has already been pilot tested in another region of India. It is under study in Andhra Pradesh following many requests from people who suffer from regular power cuts of up to 13h daily. Morgane and Ninon studied the response made ​​by the villagers about a new "greener" and cheaper solution than traditional kerosene systems.

Blanche Mattern, South Asia Project Manager

Hello!

Here we are, coming back from Andhra Pradesh where we spent several days in few villages in order to present the solar project to the villagers.

The first day we presented the project to the coordinators, then we went to the fist village: Venumbakkam in Nellore district, a village of 200 persons. Then, we visited Chilamuru a village of 100 tribal families, Puderu (200 families), Yellasiri (a forest area of 200 tribal families) and Ramapuram, a village of 130 dalit and tribal families.

We had prepared some posters with pictures to explain the project by paying no heed to the language barrier and make the project clear and understandable to all. We also presented a skit depicting a villager renting a lanter from a solar entrepreneur. Following our presentation, we had an exchange time with the villagers so they can give their opinions and ask questions. A local coordinator was present and translating what we were saying.

On the whole villagers were realy interested, responsive, enthousiastics and concerned. They also asked a lot of questions and explained that the lanterns will be useful to them: elderies will be able to go outside during the night without falling down, children will be able to study and women to cook when the night is rising. It seems to be a pressing need.

In Venumbakkam we received a really warm welcome with dances performed by the villagers, flowers, sweet milk and biscuits.

Those days allowed us to meet the rural population and to see their living conditions. It was a reach experience for both of us!

Morgane and Ninon