By Akanksha Chaurey | Director, Lighting a Billion Lives initiative
TERI embarked upon its ambitious global mission of “Lighting a Billion Lives” in the year 2008. In its three-and-a-half year long journey, the initiative has not just facilitated access to clean lighting, but has introduced several path-breaking elements in the overall programme design and implementation.
The initiative has contributed to the development of several first-of-its kind features, ranging from implementing solar charging stations on a large scale to introducing and promoting LED lanterns; creating village-level distribution network of solar enterprises; engaging self-help groups; and creating after-sales service network in villages through Technology Resource Centres. In addition, LaBL has helped extend the mobile phone charging facility through solar charging stations. It has also designed and developed an online Project Management System, which has facilitated end-to-end mapping, starting from identification of villages to its post-implementation monitoring.
Furthermore, at the national policy level, the initiative has been appreciated by the Central and state governments. The delivery model of the initiative has been adopted to provide basic lighting needs in LWE-affected districts and is being promoted to enhance access to clean energy in remote energy-impoverished regions of the country.
The journey has just begun! Solar charging stations can provide solutions to several last-mile problems in development.
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By Smita Marcus | Research Associate
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