Solar power changing rural lifestyle, mostly in <i>chars</i>
People enjoy a TV programme at a house of Dahagram enclave under Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district recently as electricity generated with the help of solar energy has given the enclave dwellers the opportunity to use and enjoy modern amenities, especially of information and entertainment.Photo: STAR
Remote char areas of Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts now see rapid change in lifestyle, thanks to the introduction of solar power by a few non-governmental organisations. Used to lighting houses with kerosene lamps only a few years ago, they are now are using solar power to light houses and shops and even watch television. Over 1,500 families in remote char areas along Jamuna basin in four upazilas of Gaibandha district are using solar power for domestic and commercial purposes, reports our Gaibandha correspondent. Grameen Shakti and Rahimafroze have supplied the solar panel in 22 unions along Teesta and Jamuna basin. Grameen Shakti alone supplied solar panel among 1,100 families in Gaibandha district during the last three years. Local NGO Gano Unnayan Kendro at char Nischintapur in Fulchari upazila has been using solar power provided by Grameen Sakti for the last three years, said an official of Grameen Shakti. "We have provided instalment facilities, so that most people in remote areas can afford solar power," he added. "I have already set up a solar panel from Rahimafroz Company at a cost of Tk 27,000. Fitting it on the roof of my shop, I am using its power to lit three bulbs and watch television," said Anwar Hossain, a shop owner of Char Kunderpara Bazaar in Gaibandha Sadar upazila. Besides providing entertainment facilities, solar power has helped bring information of home and abroad near the people of remote areas as they can now watch television. There is an increasing trend to use solar power, said Abu Sayed Sarker, chairman of Fulchhari Upazila Parishad. He urged the government to provide subsidy on solar panel to enable poor people use solar power. People of 'main land' areas are also showing interest to use solar panel as they suffer frequent power failures in the system provided by PDB and Rural Electrification Board. In Lalmonirhat, sitting at his tea stall, elderly Mazir Ali sips at his evening tea along with his customers. A small fan inside the stall keeps them cool as they watch an exciting Bangla film on Ali's black and white TV. The scene was quite unimaginable only five years ago when almost all the people in remote char areas on Dharla and Teesta rivers used kerosene lanterns to light their houses after sunset, reports a correspondent. They are now increasingly using solar power technology, made available by a few NGOs, to solve their power crisis and improve lifestyle. At least 700 solar power systems have been set up in the 26 chars under Sadar, Aditmari and Kaliganj upazilas of Lalmonirhat, NGO officials reported. Residents of the remote chars said the Rural Electrification Board could not provide electricity connections to their households as they are separated by rivers. Non-governmental organisations such as Grameen Shakti, BRAC and Gano Prochar Kalyan Sangstha (GPKS) have been providing the solar power appliance to char residents for payment in instalments. Each solar power appliance consists of a solar carbon panel, batteries and connection cables, and can supply power to a line of households simultaneously. The NGO officials carry out the set up and maintenance of the solar appliance, which usually come with a guarantee period of 15 years. The appliance price ranges from Tk 20,000 to 40,000 depending on its power producing capacity, ranging from 20 to 500 Watts. The appliance can be purchased by depositing 15 to 20 percent of its total cost as down payment. The remaining amount is repayable in 30 to 50 monthly instalments with applicable service charge of 5 to 8 percent. Constant electricity supply enables solar power users run lights and fans at homes and enjoy TV programmes. They can know more about the country, the government activities as well as about the world while students can better attend to their study.
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