BADIN: Climate change has led many countries to increase their efforts to improve energy efficiency and to invest in renewable energies as more than a billion people in the world lack access to electricity.
In the district Badin, as the sun sets and darkness falls over the villages of the district, rural women switch on their solar lanterns which replace unhealthy, expensive options with affordable and environment friendly equipment.
“The solar lantern has changed my life and I can carry on with my work even in the night and earn enough to make both ends meet”, said 22-year-old Bakhtawer Mallah who is a resident of village Ismail Mallah.
Laar Environmental Awareness Forum in collaboration with LEAF Badin had initiated the project called “Promoting Alternate Energy Solutions through Women Participation” in twenty two villages of the union council Seerani, while closely working with Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program (SGAFP).
This project was initiated on Nov 16, 2016 and successfully concluded on July 12, 2017 and under the shadow of the project, a total of 22 rural women groups were organised and trained. More than 1,094 solar lanterns were provided to 547 households of union council Seerani and 10 solar street lights were also installed in the rural area of the Seerani town.
Through the provided solar lights, villagers can also charge their mobile phones instead of having to travel to Badin and back. In the area, almost all households relied on kerosene as the primary or secondary source of lighting but were now trained to use the lanterns. “The solar lanterns not only are convenient and a source of income for the villagers but also help reduce climate-changing carbon emissions, as each lantern replaces around 500 to 600 liters of kerosene during its 10-year lifespan,” said Nawaz Khatti, President of LEAF.
At the completion of the project, LEAF also organised a project closing ceremony on Wednesday at Badin which was participated by a large number of women, children and men from different organisations and community members along with govt officials.
On the occasion, speakers shared their views regarding the outcomes and impacts of the project on women of the rural areas and stressed the need to continue the project of alternate energy in all villages of the district.
