THE INITIATIVE

• Solar electrification in off-grid regions

THE BENEFICIARIES

• Khetramohanpur Bhagabati Ballika Vidyalaya, Sundarban district, West Bengal

THE CHALLENGE

THE SOLUTION

• An innovative business model with community contribution and a loan-cum-grant assistance of ? 1.37 Lakh from NABARD was used to install 75 solar LED lamps in the hostel
• A JLG of members running the hostel was formed. The group contributed ? 25,000

THE IMPACT

• The hostel, like the school, has solar-lit rooms now
• Children who earlier paid for kerosene now pay a marginal sum of ? 2 per day towards system maintenance costs and repayment of loan amount
• Sustainable model of JLG financing replicated to electrify two more schools
• Commercial banks convinced to replicate this model of JLG financing