Jogad Village Solar Lanterns
Posted: 05/17/2010
Under the present project, solar lanterns were distributed to 138 salt worker families in Jogad village of Surendranagar district. The salt workers were benefited as a result of these solar lanterns. This year the summer was very hot. As a result, at 9.00 – 9.30 a.m. it became so hot that it was difficult for the salt workers to work in the desert. Those members who had solar lanterns would work till 10.00 p.m. and were able to start as early as 4.00 am. This resulted in a positive impact on the health of the communities. As against this, those who did not have the solar lanterns would have to work till 11.00 or 12.00 noon. As a result they had to suffer from dizziness, fever, blood pressure.
Also these 138 families had to buy 5-7 litres of kerosene every month to light lamps. Due to the solar lamps these families saved an amount of Rs. 1600-1800 per season, as they did not have to buy kerosene. Thus all the 138 families saved an amount of Rs. 2,20,800. These families also contributed positively to the environment by using solar power and less kerosene.
Ansooyaben Rameshbhai says that since I had solar lanterns, I would wake up early in the morning and cook the food. Then I would go and work on the saltpans and rake the land till 9.00 a.m. I have two small kids. My son is 4 year old and my daughter is 3. I have to take my kids along with me when I work in the saltpans. They play there in the scorching heat. Now, as a result of the solar lanterns, I finished the work on the slat pans early in the morning and then sit in the shelter and look after my children. I would like to thank Ariadne ben that she helped us poor families to buy solar lanterns. Now we do not find it very difficult to work in the desert. All those who come to our house feel that these solar lanterns are very helpful and that we also want such lanterns.”
