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Rotary Club and Selco have helped bring light to the homes of tribals.

Ashwath from Sollepura relocation centre is a class ten student who secured first class marks this year. He was admitted to the Vishwa Bharathi Vidya Samasthe in HD Kote for his higher education. Contributing to his success in no small measure is the fact that the dark homes in this settlement have been lit with solar power, thanks to the involvement of civil society.

Irregular power supply, unscheduled power cuts and power disconnections were a frequent happening here. But since last month things have changed for the better.


Sollepura resettlement, Karnataka © P M Muthanna

It was during 2007-08 that 60 tribal families from different tribal settlements of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve were relocated to Sollepura relocation centre of HD Kote Taluk, Mysore. These families were provided with 3 acres of land and benefits worth rupees one lakh.

These houses had been provided with a power connection from Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Chescom). But for administrative reasons, these families were deprived of power supply at subsided rates under the Bhagyajoithi or Kutirajoythi schemes. (Under these schemes the beneficiaries get a free power supply of 40 units per month and are charged only if power consumption exceeds 40 units). This resulted in each family getting a power bill of more than Rs 200 per month. Sometimes delayed payment resulted in disconnection of power.


WCS India Program staff Govindappa HL helping with setting up the solar panels © P M Muthanna

That was when WCS India Program Project staff Govindappa HL who works in the Sollepura centre took up the issue with Chescom officials. However, they expressed helplessness for administrative reasons. Even a request from the earlier Superintendent of Police, Mysore Ravi Chennavar (who wrote to Chescom after his visit to Sollepura) did not yield any result.

One day an elderly woman from the settlement fell into a drain in front of the house and broke her leg while stepping out late in the evening.

Children perhaps faced the most difficulty. More than 60 students present in the settlement had a tough time completing homework thanks to lack of electricity.

Since the government issued the families with the LPG gas, kerosene was not issued, ruling out the use of lamps. Govindappa sent a letter to the food department in Mysore requesting for kerosene supply to these families. He was able to get a provision of one litre of kerosene per family.

Now lamps could be lit but the accompanying smoke from the kerosene lamps not only hurt the eye but set off respiratory issues.

Finally, Govindappa approached H D Kote Rotary Club President Narayanalal G and Secretary N S Krishna and also other office bearers and members, seeking a solution. The Rotary Club, in turn, approached Rotary Clubs of Mysore. Dr Jayanth M S, Charter President took the issue seriously and proposed the idea to Selco Solar Pvt. Ltd. He also sought financial support from various Rotary Clubs of Mysore for providing solar units to the interested families.

The unit cost of providing solar power (for two lights and one plug point) was Rs 9000. Beneficiaries were asked to contribute Rs 2000. The Rotary Club donated Rs 3000 while Selco Solar Light Pvt. Ltd and Foundation contributed Rs 4000. Sixty relocated families have availed this facility.


All lit up. © P M Muthanna

Now kerosene is used solely for cooking purposes when needed. Students are also a happy lot.

Intervention by civil society organisations has thus opened a new chapter in the lives of relocated families of Sollepura relocation centre. So much so, when neighbouring villages are plunged into darkness during power cuts, Sollepura shines like a beacon of hope.