Sabha Assets To Be Energy Efficient In Five Years
All temples and schools managed by the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha Fiji will have renewable energy by 2021. Sabha’s National President Sarju Prasad made the revelation during the 58th annual convention of the organisation at Korovutu College in Nadi on Friday.
Mr Prasad informed that by 2021 all their temples and Sanatan schools will have solar power rather than electricity.
“We hope to engage the Government of India under the global solar alliance launched by Shri Narendra Modi to share their expertise, guidance and assistance to help us achieve this goal,” he said.
“By being energy efficient we tend to save at least $100,000 per year in bills for our communities and my pledge to all our stakeholders is to support us to achieve each of our eight goals.
Chief guest at the event Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal commended the efforts of the Sanatan Dharm in fighting climate change by switching to solar energy. Meanwhile Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Veena Bhatnagar told those attending the convention to make good use of their affiliations and authority to do good for their communities.
“You must be passionate enough to identify and understand the issues faced by our people and also be bold enough to reach out to service providers, Government, other NGOs and development agencies to assist you”, Ms Bhatnagar said.
With one of its aim being the provision of social support for the poor and vulnerable in Fiji, the Sanatan Nari Sabha also works hand-in-hand with Government and the ministry in looking after the most vulnerable in society.
“I encourage the Sanatan Nari Sabha to identify projects either for small women groups, or even aim to do something bigger as an association of women for our less fortunate sisters.
“To economically empower women would mean empowering families and societies and ultimately the nation. It has been proven that when women earn, it directly benefits their children and positively impacts their education. Therefore, economically empowering women is not only a good thing; it is also a smart thing to do,” she said.