In an attempt to promote ‘Green Diwali’ during the ongoing pandemic, stalls selling solar lights made by women from Self Help Groups (SHG) had been set up at the district collectorate office on November 12 and November 13. The lights made under the initiative ‘Ranchi ki Roshni’ were priced at Rs 160 each while the women managed to sell over 400 pieces in two- days' time.
“This two- day setup of sale of solar lamps was the administration’s small efforts to promote Green Diwali this year and brighten up people’s home with ‘Ranchi ki Roshni’. Our SHG women have been on the forefront of producing these lights and it was a great platform for them to learn and showcase their efforts,” said Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan.
The project was started in July 2018 in order to promote livelihood as well as sustainable lighting solutions. As many as 15 women are involved in the entire manufacturing process right from assembling the LED, soldering the wire to varnishing it at a centre in Ormanjhi.
“Whenever it comes to providing women with skilled training, stitching and make up are the first options that come to one’s mind but this is something very different that we are involved in. The response received at the Collectorate Office has been tremendously overwhelming and we have managed to sell more than 400 lights in the two days that we had put up a stall there. At our stall we gave the customers a demonstration on how to charge and use it for maximum benefit,” said Manju Devi from SHG, Ommanjhi.
The rechargeable lights when fully charged in the sun for about three to four hours have a life of up to five hours. The solar powered lights are produced for CSR initiatives and orders of various organizations like Indian Oil Corporation, HPCL, TRIFED and are not up for individual sale often.