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With a population of less than 2,500 people, the village of Dharnai in Bihar was relatively anonymous till it became energy independent by going completely solar in 2014 with the help of Greenpeace. A press release by Greenpeace states that the 100-kilowatt solar-powered micro-grid. provides quality electricity to more the population of Dharnai village near Bodh Gaya. The move has made a phenomenal difference to the 450 households and over 50 commercial establishments in the area who were previously forced to rely on kerosene lamps after sunset, reported Your Story.
The village dwellers reveled at the move glad that they now have the opportunity and infrastructure to pursue bigger goals. A resident of Dharnai, Kamal Kishore said, “While India was growing leaps and bounds, we were stuck here for the last 30 years, trying everything in the book to get electricity. We were forced to struggle with kerosene lamps and expensive diesel generators. But now I can proudly say that Dharnai is a leader in innovation. We have established our identity as an energy self-sufficient village and can compete with the country in its race to growth.”
The shift to solar power was not an easy one but definitely worth it and with the cooperation of the villagers, Greenpeace was able to carry out the three crore rupees project in association with BASIX, a livelihood promotion institution as well as Centre for Environment and Energy Development( CEED). The first-of-its kind, the micro-grid powers not just homes and commercials establishments but also water pumping systems for farms, schools, health centres and the Kisan Training Centre (Farmer Training Centre). The initial construction took over three months and has improved the lives of the villagers multi-fold. The Logical Indian reported that the rural population uses hazardous fuels like cow dung, kerosene lamps and firewood for cooking and lighting. The use of such fuels led to sickness due to household air pollution but with the installation of a renewable source of energy, this has been done away with. Moreover, the change allows children to study even beyond the daylight hours women can even go out after dark thanks to the street lights.
The world of external communication has also been opened up to the people as they are now able to charge their mobile phones and also access the Internet. According to Greenpeace, the criteria for a village to be selected was that agriculture was the main occupation of the population, it also needed basic infrastructure including schools, childcare , healthcare facilities and over 400 households. Dharnai fit the bill and was then chosen for the installation. Naveen Mishra of CEED said, “The micro-grid intends to be the answer to the intense policy and vision paralysis that India’s energy sector faces today. The towns and villages of Bihar have been deprived of energy for decades now and we feel this is where the micro-grid can be the connect. We urge the Bihar government to follow and replicate this model.”
Greenpeace appealed to the government of Bihar to recognise that decentralized renewable energy systems (DRES) is the only way forward if they intend to light up the dark villages of Bihar and the rest of India. The Logical Indian reported that India has 80,000 other villages that are devoid of any kind of electricity and 19,000 of them are in Bihar alone. After Dharnai, several others villages in states like Bengal and Orissa have followed in its stead by becoming solar powered. With the climate change being the biggest woe for world governments, it seems that the rural population is leading the way by making the most noticeable change. Dharnai serves as a shining example for the rest of India and it is a successful model that can be replicated for a brighter future.
Feature Image Courtesy Of Greenpeace India
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