Shillong: On March 27, besides the first shower, about 486 households covering about 2000 villagers of West Garo Hills were given solar lamps. This was in response to the Garo Hills flood seven months ago, on September 22, 2014, when seemingly-harmless rains turned into flash floods leaving over 1172 villages of Garo Hills completely under water.
Following the unprecedented floods some concerned individuals who have a connection with the State, decided to extend a helping hand to the flood affected people. Mumbai – based journalist, Pooja Bhula, who had briefly worked with The Shillong Times as an intern was one such person who had developed a strong bond with the State. Pooja Bhula was driven by a sense of compassion for those who have lost their all in the floods. “At first I just wanted to donate at a personal level, but realising the magnitude of the situation and a request for solar lights from Mr Pravin Bakshi, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, I decided to raise funds and bring light back to as many households as possible. What gave me confidence was knowing a credible Mumbai-based NGO, Project Chirag–an initiative of Chirag Rural Development Foundation, which would execute the project with the right spirit,” Pooja told this correspondent
Project Chirag is one of India’s largest youth-driven solar lighting initiatives that was founded with the aim of providing solar lights to villages in India that have no electricity. Since its inception in 2010, it has reached out to over 200 villages in India. “Meghalaya will mark the beginning of our intervention into a sixth state,” shares Jyotirmoy Chatterjee, Co-founder of Project Chirag. It’s heartening that while raising funds was not easy, most donations have come from Mumbaikers who have never visited the state.
The lamps were distributed at three points in Tura, impacting a total of nine villages that Mr. Bakshi shared as some of the worst affected-Kalapani I, II and III, Kaimbattapara I, Bangalgatta, Borshibanda, Deldella and Bolarbitta East and West. At each point, a huge crowd turned up and distribution began with Jyotirmoy demonstrating to the villagers how to charge the light, how to turn it on and off and how to use it optimally with all its facilities.
Next the thumb impressions or signatures of each beneficiary was taken by the NGO before the light was given. Besides the NGO staff, the handing over of lights was done by various dignitaries including the BDO of Selsella, Pittingson Sangma.
The solar lamp is portable and hence can be used indoors as well as outdoors and also has a mobile phone charging port, so villagers can remain connected with the rest of world despite lack of electricity. The next day, when the team went to meet the beneficiaries at Kalapani I, villagers said, “We usually have to go to the market area or other places outside the village just to charge our phones.” Some of them said, “We generally use kerosene, which is expensive and after the floods kerosene too was scarcely available. When we can’t afford it, we add cooking oil to our lamps, so the solar light is of great help.” The lights will also enable kids to study after sunset.
Pooja Bhula and her team travelled all the way from Mumbai and back at their own expense but once in Garo Hills they were ably assisted by Mr Pravin Bakshi’s who they said, “lent his proactive support at the grass roots level.” The team was appreciative of his impeccable organisational skills.
