It’s girl power in India as ‘solar gal pals’ light up rural homes

JAIPUR: Buffalo trampled over it? Rain drenched it? Child dropped it? No problem!

This solar flashlight can endure it all, said Bassi in a pitch to her neighbours in rural India to convince them to power their homes with clean energy instead of polluting fuels.

Bassi is one of 2,500 “Solar Sahelis”, or solar women friends, who fan out to different villages and persuade families to use solar energy in the western desert state of Rajasthan, which sees about 300 days of sunshine every year.

With unreliable electricity and hours-long power cuts every day, many rural families in Rajasthan are often forced to rely on candles, kerosene oil lanterns or burning wood, which emit soot and noxious fumes.

They not only can lead to premature death due to disease, but can also cause fire accidents and burn injuries.

That is why solar is the way to go, said 26-year-old Bassi, who goes by one name, in her village of Moonpur, about 130km from state capital Jaipur, where buffalos and cows wander the dusty streets.

“They just makes more sense – affordable, long-lasting, durable and safe,” said Bassi, who has sold up to 32 solar flashlights since becoming a Solar Saheli last year.

Even then, Bassi said it can be a challenge to win over villagers who are usually wary of the initial higher costs and distrust solar products due to experience with some flimsy products from China.

The most popular product, the “Solar Rakshak”, or solar protector, flashlight costs between US$10 (RM42) and US$20 (RM84), while a regular battery-run one would be about US$5 (RM21).

But once doubts are cleared, almost every customer is satisfied, said Bassi.

Kamlesh Devi, a mother of two, bought the Solar Rakshak in June after Bassi assured her that it would save her frequent trips to the market for new batteries and lights, and help her children study without any irritation to their eyes.

“I used to buy flashlights for US$5 that would malfunction within six months. Sometimes it would fall here or there. The batteries would die quickly. But this is a great thing,” said Devi, who lives at the village.

“The kids are studying well. Until 10, 11 at night, even if there is no electricity, they study very comfortably,” she said.

Jaipur-based Frontier Markets, the social enterprise behind the project, said its mission is to provide over 10 million clean energy products to 30 million households in India by 2020.

But the project is not just about going green.

It also aims to empower women in the male-dominated, conservative state, where child marriage is rife and girls are routinely denied an education and live a life largely confined to home.

“In order to drive true women empowerment, they need to be economically secure.

“The second you put money into women’s hands, everything changes as it gives them security,” said Ajaita Shah, the 34-year-old founder of Frontier Markets. — Reuters