SHILLONG, Nov 8: The North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) officially launched its ‘No One Shall Be Left Behind Initiative’, a solar power initiative funded by REC, at Mawpynthymmai village in East Khasi Hills on Monday.
This village in Mawkynrew area has, for years, relied only on basic solar power source for minimal electrification, and at their own capacity. But with the NESFAS initiative, Mawpynthymmai is now completely electrified and all 24 households have access to basic electricity.
The solar power initiative of NESFAS was undertaken to address climate change through sustainable energy — solar energy. Community members of the village and NESFAS team were present at the inaugural function along with the chief guest of the day, Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, who is also Mawkynrew MLA.
Local MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh, who officially inaugurated the project, stated that the overall aim of the initiative is to promote organic policy.
The Agriculture Minister commended NESFAS and expressed his appreciation to the team led by HM Mohrmen.
He sought the cooperation of NESFAS to assist the Agricultural department in promoting the traditional foods of the rural communities of Meghalaya. He also assured that Mawpynthymmai village would get proper road connectivity in the near future.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, NESFAS, Pius Ranee, revelled in the milestone achieved by NESFAS with the introduction of renewable energy through solar panels. He expressed his gratitude to his other colleagues for making the initiative a successful undertaking. NESFAS had already worked with Mawynthymmai in promoting traditional modes of farming through door-to-door educational campaigns in the past.
The main objective behind this had been to formulate a model structure on organic farming at Mawpynthymmai village which would help become gateway of change to the other villages in the adjoining area.
Pius Ranee stated that the renewable energy initiative will not only benefit the community by providing clean energy and employment to youths but also help in preserving and conserving traditional modes of farming.
The community members at the inaugural programme were also extremely positive about the solar initiative with the firm belief that the initiative would help the community in every way. The solar energy has been a boon for them, providing light for children to study long into the night and there is a sense of duty among the community to take care and maintain the solar panels and other components.
Babu Nestar Kharmawphlang, a school teacher from Laitsohpliah, said that green energy is the need of the hour in the present era even as he lauded NESFAS for taking up an initiative to electrify the whole of Mawpynthymmai village through solar energy. “The electricity will not only give power to the village households but also enliven their livelihoods,” he said.
Wanlamjingkmen Pyngrope, Headman of Mawpynthymmai village, profusely thanked NESFAS for bringing the much-needed change in the village. “I’m very delighted to say that the initiative of solar lighting in our village has been fruitful with the helping hand of NESFAS,” he said. He also reserved his praises for the community members and everyone involved in the solar initiative for making the project a successful undertaking.
Khrawborlang Wahlang, Adviser and Innovation Empowerment, NESFAS, in turn expressed his appreciation to the village administration for their cooperation with the NESFAS team and also for their relentless hard work. “As this is the first time the whole village will be able to see their houses being electrified, this initiative will be a blessing for the village,” he added.