Dr. K. Parameswaran**,,
It was as if the sun had risen at night in Sitraruvipatti, a settlement hamlet in Vellimalaipatti Kottampatti block of Madurai District. The hamlet is situated in the foothills of the evergreen Alagarkovil reserve forest, about 39 kms from Madurai.
For Ayyavu, a small and marginal farmer and others, last September seventh was a day to be remembered for ever. They were literally “thamaso ma gamaya” – led from darkness to light – thanks to solar lighting systems. When the solar lights were switched on, the loudest claps and cheers came from the children who had assembled there, probably because they can now bid good-bye’ to Kerosene lamps!
All the residents of Sitaruvipatti are small and marginal farmers who are actively engaged in agriculture – especially vegetable farming and horticulture. There are 30 children in the hamlet. Amongst them 20 walk to school about four kms away daily. Hither to they could use only kerosene lamps for pursuing their studies at home after dusk.
Through the coordinated efforts put in by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and Selco Solar- an enterprise founded by Harish Hande, a Magsaysay Award winner for 2011 – Solar Home lighting has been introduced in this remote hamlet. In a glittering function, solar lighting system was inaugurated by Shri S.Natarajan, DGM, Nabard, Madurai. He requested more banks should come forward to finance solar systems in remote rural areas.
Shri R. Shankar Narayan, AGM, NABARD, Madurai said that IOB has financed the solar lighting system with 40% Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) subsidy under the Government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The Nabard channelised the subsidy, while 10% of the investment was provided by beneficiary contribution.
In order to optimize the exploitation of solar power and to promote commercial marketing of solar accessories, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has evolved the JNNSM. As per the guidelines, the units could be located both in urban and rural areas and the models could be home lighting systems or inverter based systems capable of handling general AC loads. Beneficiaries are eligible for assistance under the scheme by way of 40% capital subsidy.
Release of loan shall be made directly to the manufacturers approved by MNRE. After loan sanction including subsidy, the bank shall approach NABARD for release of capital subsidy. On receipt of subsidy from NABARD, the bank shall disburse the loan directly to the manufacturers who will install the lighting systems as per MNRE approved specifications.
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Disclaimer : The views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of INVC.
