It was a go-ahead for the residents of far-off villages who are still living without electricity in Thar Desert. Schools for children, health centres for the ailing, safe water for drinking and sanitation are almost far-reaching dreams of the neglected people in the area.
Residing in makeshift abodes, they have been vulnerable to impacts of weather changes. The communities being ignored in terms of development have dreams to turn them true.
The Integrated Rural Awareness and Development Organisation (IRADO), in collaboration with the UNDP Green Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme has distributed 500 solar lanterns among the identified families from three marginalised villages in Nagar Parkar, which include Bhako Village, Kharoro Village and Vekasar Village. Shaan Technologies had donated these lanterns to the selected areas.
The objective is to help the marginalised people living in isolated villages. Pervaiz Lodhi, the industrialist-turned-philanthropist said that he wants to help those who do not have access to the facilities.
“I want to help the people where obviously the government officials have failed to reach.” He has named the project ‘Pehli Kiran’, dedicating it to his daughter, under which the philanthropist travels personally to see the plight of the people and presents gifts of solar lights to them.
This will support the families to get light, especially schoolchildren to study for more time. In Thar, people have a different way of life, living in makeshift homes at sand dunes without electricity. They use fuel wood for cooking and kerosene for lighting lamps.
According to the selection policy, Abbas Khoso, IRADO Executive Director, said that lanterns have been given to marginalised families with women and children.
Psychologically, women are keen to take care of their belongings. This exercise brings high level of ownership and responsibility. They could save spending by charging it through sunlight.
UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme National Coordinator Masood Lohar said that it is a war against darkness.
“We want to travel to those living in far-off areas without these facilities. People from low-income areas are our target beneficiaries of this initiative to save their money.”
He appreciated the efforts made by the philanthropist for his keen interest in travelling long distances to reach the less privileged people to bring little changes in their way of life.
Usually, life in such remote villages starts from sunrise and ends after sunset. Children cannot study their books because they do not have light.
Since the residents live in darkness, sometimes they fall prey to snake bites. This solar light would also protect them from such incidents.
IRADO is already implementing the project of rainwater harvesting to maximise domestic use of natural water in Nagar Parkar.
The organisation has built two small dams, five open rainwater harvesting ponds, and is utilising local knowledge by ensuring community participation.
In the Tharparkar district, which is an arid zone, people depend on rains for cultivation and obtaining drinking water.
Pervaiz Lodhie I am very proud of you.You are sharing your wealth with the very needy people of Thar.God Bless your kind heart and may God guide you to do more for these people who have been deprived of light for so many years.We have seen what a change it has brought to their lives in Sevan Shareef.May God give you the strenght to carry this noble deed. Mariam Issa
Thank you for your kind words. This nangarparkar distribution not only instantly changed the socio-economic conditions of almost 7500 family members but most of these people are Hindus and very poor. My feeling after meeting many of them during distribution is that they will benefit greatly from this simple but powerful made in Pakistan LED Lantern.
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