The Shahrukh lantern

Celebrities are funding a major solar project in villages

Going to school had become a nightmare for Kiran. She could never manage to complete her homework and was always being chided by her teacher. Reason: She didn’t have a reading lamp in the evening, and the sole kerosene lamp was shared by all the family members. What’s more, like so many 11-year-olds, Kiran had to assist in housekeeping as well.

But all that is past. Recently Shahrukh Khan gifted to Ahirajpur village in Kendrapara district Rs 2.7 lakhs for a solar energy harnessing project.

The project will benefit hundreds of children like Kiran in this remote coastal Orissa village. Ask them about the project, and they are quick to answer: Now we have the Shahrukh lantern. Shahrukh heard of Ahirajpur’s after he became a part of NDTV’s Greenathon initiative ‘Light a Billion Lives’. Ever since he has funded several solar energy harnessing projects. The projects are implemented by the Energy & Research Institute (TERI), and apart from Shahrukh other business houses have stepped in with funds. As a result six other villages in Kendrapara district – Banipal, Talchua, Deulasahi, Rangani, Bagapatia and Okilpal – have solar power to light up their dark moments. Shilpa Shetty's donations have also brought relief to villagers.

Shahrukh has paid the entire cost of installation, maintenance will be the villagers’ responsibility. Villagers get their batteries charged at a charging station, which costs between Rs 3 and Rs 5. Regular consumers are charged Rs 3 and occasional users Rs 5. Says Nature Club secretary Bibhuti Bhusan Pati: “It’s a sort of dream come true for residents of this backward village. There were no expectations from the government agencies.”

And all say that the most to benefit from this project are women and school children



Dhrutikam Mohanty
( TSI English 04th October 2009)