rahultalreja11@gmail.com: Feb 23 11:10AM -0800
Contribute here-https://milaap.org/fundraisers/rural-electrification
Following are a few images of the community that our project is addressing. This community has a population of around 27000 and has minimum access to electricity. Most of the people living in this region are either farmers or microenterprise owners. Hence, they live on once in a year earnings and daily earnings respectively. As discussed with them, following are the common problems faced by them:
The microenterprise owners have access to lighting only for 3 hours every evening that too through by using a diesel generator. The cost of running a diesel generator per day is approximately INR 6500. Also, since the region is in the remotest location, it is difficult to find diesel every day owing to another, which is transport. (Also there are several risks associated with this method)
The women in the houses find it difficult to work without light. As seen in the first picture, this is how every evening is like in Maharajganj. According to the native women, not only cooking is a problem, but the absence of electricity is also a hindrance for the studies of their children. This claim is justified by the fact that the literacy rate of this region is below 50% which is less than the overall literacy rate of the country
The project is expected to impact more than 150 shops in the selected region. They will be getting 4 – 5 hours of lighting to run their shops for a longer period of time and earn extra income.
Project Details
We are electrifying 50 shops in villages of Gorakhpur and Maharajganj via a crowdfunded campaign. (Old Campaign , for which funds are already ready)
There are 150 more shops and several homes which we want to include in our project but due to lack of funds, we are not able to work on them.
Plan
The village has been identified using the support of local microfinance company which will be also maintaining these plants.
Funds for this project will be used to procure the solar panels, batteries to expand the grid.
There would be a local technician/electrician who would be given thorough knowledge regarding the installation and maintenance of the devices.
After completion of the training program, these technicians and electricians will help install a fully established solar power plant on in that area to cover electricity needs of 300 families. Periodic checks would be conducted and assistance would be provided to these technicians.
Our online monitoring platform, TrackSo, will be monitoring the solar systems remotely for a regular check, raise alerts, predict failures and allow control of solar system based on payments.
Timelines for the project. - Installations and training will be completed between 6th-13th April 2017
Example- we have given similar training in villages of west Bengal
Sustainable Solution-
How we will ensure that the people keep getting benefits of the system installed for promised life of solar ( more than 25 years). ?
Fund collected will be used to install grids but regular maintenance will be involved. ( Example- Batteries are required to be changed every 4th year, regular cleaning is required for producing maximum power from the panels, local technicians are required to restore systems during time of breakdown)
After the installation is complete, residents will pay Rs 7 to the local contact for per day use who will be responsible for maintenance, repair, security, and payment collection for this system.
If anytime there are any issues with the system (battery replacement or any other), that will be carried by the installer for the whole life of the solar plant and the cost burden won't be on the villagers.
All the supporters will be provided access to our online monitoring platform and can any day log in and check the performance of the system they contributed for.
Reports- Once the project is completed a full report, photos and recorded videos will be submitted to all supporters.
If any of the supporters is interested in helping us on ground, then we are more happy to welcome them.
Extra
More about our social initiatives can be found here- www.freespirits.in
More photos of our initiatives can be seen here- https://www.facebook.com/pg/freedomtoinnovate/
Do share your thoughts with us below and don't forget to contribute your share of energy too.
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