Members of the Yogada Satsanga Society (YSS) of India, established in 1917 under the charisma of Sri Sri Parmahansa Yoganananda, distributed eco-friendly solar lights to flood-affected families in seven villages of Gop and Nimapada blocks in Puri district. The members sought suggestions of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra regarding the relief materials’ distribution. Mahapatra told them that safe shelter, dry and cooked food, medicine, polythene, animal feed, etc., had been distributed as emergency relief as per the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Now, in post-flood scenario, the process for distribution of house repair assistance and crop loss assistance is going on.
Mahapatra advised society members to distribute solar lights with chargers. Such a device, he said, "will be an asset of the family. While providing eco-friendly light, the device will also spread experience-based awareness among people about the use of renewable energy".
The members of the society distributed solar lights to around 650 families.