India’s First Solar Powered Village

THE SUN doesn’t set on Rampura village in Jhansi anymore. The village is the
first in the country to have its own solar power plant.

Rampura, 17km from Jhansi, did not have electricity before the plant was set
up. The 8.7KW plant cost an estimated Rs 31.5 lakh and it would power all 69
houses.

Development Alternatives, a non-profit organisation, in collaboration with
Scatec Solar of Norway, gave the village the country’s first community-based
solar power plant. “Community partnership has ensured participation of the
community from the beginning for their ownership.

Use of renewable and clean energy for electricity will make Rampura
self-sufficient in power. Under this power plant, a village energy committee
(VEC) has been established,” said Manaoj Mahata, programme manager (energy),
Development Alternatives.

Solar power would soon go into enhancing skills of the villagers and help
establish local micro entrepreneurs. Anita Pal, a resident who is a VEC
member, said: “I plan to begin a knitting enterprise to make some money.

The pilot project was initiated to test the techno-commercial viability
of deploying solar energy for development in rural areas, Mahat added.