A Clean Solar Alternative to Kerosene Lamps, Nepal

In the past month, solar tuki multiple charger (one charger having 25 solar PV panel + one charger having 20 solar PV panel = total 45 solar PV panels, capable of charging 90 solar tuki lamps at one time) was placed in Rastriya Primary School, Glauthok village in Chitwan district, South Central Nepal. Total 90 pcs. solar tuki lamp were provided (42 households x 2 pcs. per household = 84 pcs. plus 6 pcs. for school use).

It was significant also because most of the families residing in the village are Chepang (nomads). They are a highly marginalized indigenous ethnic minority group. They are dependent on Diyalo (wooden strip of pine trees) for lighting their homes. They often make a big open fire which is contributing for light as well, thereby contributing towards excessive use of firewood and deforestation. They cannot afford to buy kerosene for lighting the kerosene wicked lamp (known as tuki in Nepali language).

The main income source of the people is agriculture but due to insufficient water to irrigate their field, the agriculture produce is hardly enough for 6 months. Rest of the year, people go for labor in nearby towns and go in the jungle to find tuber, root, bulb to feed the family.

Most of the village housewives are now happy from the use of solar tuki because of ease of life, no need to collect Diyalo, convenient to prepare evening meals, health benefit and brighter light. Mr. Buddhi Lal Chepang, a teacher in the Rastriya Primary School, expressed happiness in providing the solar tuki lamp. Now, the students need not fear about the fire hazard and the black soot particulates (emitted by Diyalo, which causes various health problems like eye irritation, cough, etc.) and the students can now study better.

For long-term operation of the solar tuki, locals were provided repair and maintenance training as well as the required tool sets.

I would like to thank all for your support. Because of your help and support, we have been able to make a difference. We hope for the same type of support in the coming days.

Please like our facebook page to get updates regarding our activities and follow us on twitter to get our tweets. We are also looking forward towards your valuable suggestions and comments regarding our works as well.

Thank you & Regards,

By the end of December 2013, 9 schools located in 3 VDC’s of Morang District were supported with the installation of solar tuki community charging centre. As the schools were located in hilly terrains, the community did not have access to electricity. As a result the low income families in these communities till this day were forced to use kerosene as the only option for light in the evening hours. But, with the installation of these community charging centres in school compound, a total of 1200 students studying in these schools have been directly benefited, who now have access to safe and clean light in evening hours in their home.

Along with the support of establishing community charging centre in schools, 11 representative’s participants from these 9 different schools were trained towards repairing and maintaining the fault solar tuki’s. This two day’s training organized on 16^th and 17^th January had made them able to undertake the entire repair & maintenance activities required for an effective functioning of solar tuki. Each participant was also supported with a set of equipments required to run the repair & maintenance centre in their school. This will ensure about the continuous operation of solar tuki distributed among the students in the school.

This program is very good for us, because it has supported our children to study in a smoke free and clean environment. Previously, they used to study using kerosene for light in evening time. Some children makes excuses for reading showing health problem from kerosene lamp. Now, I believe that they can study safely with the light of Solar Tuki. And now with this 2 day’s training and equipments, I can also help the education of these children from my school through providing service of repairing the malfunctioning solar tuki’s.

– Mr. Sambhu Rai (Parents-Sarashwati Primary School).

Our primary students are benefiting from the use of solar tuki. And, I want to make sure that they don’t require switching to kerosene lamp any more. Hence, I participated in this 2 days repair and maintenance training and trained myself towards keeping the solar tuki in function all the time. I hope the tools set for repair and maintenance will support the skills that I have learned from this training and keeping my children out of kerosene lamp.

– Mr. Tej Nath Timilsina (Principal-Durga Primary School, Jante)

THANK YOU for your support and believing in US. YOUR Help and Support is Invaluable to US in our WORK. Because of Your help and support, we have been able to make difference in the life of needy families. We look forward towards the same support in coming days ahead. Please share our stories within your circle of friends and family to help us bring changes in the rural communities of Nepal.

Also, please like our facebook page for updates regarding our activities and twitter to receive our tweets. We are also looking forward towards your valuable suggestions and comments regarding our works as well.

Thank you & Regards,

Angel Chitrakar

Senior Program Officer

ECCA