Electrifying Karanjkur with the Solar Mamas

The problem

India has achieved a commendable feat by electrifying 100% villages in the country. This is particularly noteworthy given the huge diversity in geographic and social conditions in the continent size country. Given the settlement pattern in scattered homes in numerous small hamlets, last mile connectivity will always pose a problem for reaching grid based electricity to each and every home in remote, far flung tribal villages. Innovative solutions have therefore to be found for bringing them out of darkness into light.

Karanjkur and eight surrounding hamlets of the village Sursinga in Raidih block, Gumla district offers such an example where innovation will beat geography to provide electricity to each home. Reaching Sursinga itself is a task as one has to navigate tortuous paths, parts of which are and can still not be made pucca due to a huge stony outcrop of the Ghodapahad. Reaching the hamlet Karanjkur is an ordeal and the remaining hamlets are not reachable except by foot. They are located around Karanjkur in a radius of 2 kilometers. Over 150 households live in these hamlets, which are not close to each other. Thus the total length of electric wires and poles to be installed by the grid system would run up to 8 kilometres. This needs a huge investment running into several lakhs. 

Kanajkur itself was electrified by constructing a solar power based micro-grid that generated 14KVA energy. The scheme was quite expensive but was done by Gram Urja with generous assistance of Bank of America. The other hamlets were still shrouded in darkness.

The solution

The Aspirational District Fellows in Gumla worked with PRADAN and encouraged and nurtured a partnership with the Rural College of Rajasthan to evolve a household based solar electrification scheme. It follows the globally known model known as “Solar Mama”. All the households formed a Committee for implementing the scheme and its subsequent management. They contributed Rs. 1000 each, either all at once or in instalments as their contribution. The investment for each home would come to between Rs. 14000 to Rs. 18000. The basic investment of Rs. 14000 would include the solar panel, battery, wiring, three lamps and one ceiling fan etc. The variation in investment comes because of the differential choice of electric equipment the homes would install. The solar panel for each home would be mounted on iron angle structure, not atop their roof as their homes are of mud walls which can easily be affected by ever-present termite.

The Rural College has selected two young ladies from the village who are undergoing training in installation and maintenance of the solar electrification system. They can also assemble small equipment such as more lamps or torches etc and thus provide additional services. Each household will pay a fixed sum to the Committee to cover the remuneration of these two persons. The construction of the electrification system will begin soon after rains. The villagers look forward to being electrified.

This scheme offers an excellent supplement to the village electrification program where reaching power supply via grid is too expensive. Besides, given the far flung locations, ensuring uninterrupted power supply throughout the year is a Herculean task. Home based decentralised solar systems offer a very good solution for meeting domestic electricity demands in such situations. The ‘Solar Mama’ practice carries immense potential to ensure electrification in far flung areas characterised by small hamlets each with scattered settlements and brighten the lives of the villagers.

Source : Public System Strengthening in Aspirational Districts