A JOINT INITIATIVE TOWARD SOCIAL CAUSE

PROJECT UJALA – EK PAHAL

A charity supporting Education in remote communities in the rural India

Even though the Indian Government has announced that every child has a right to education, school children in rural India face various
obstacles. Lack of proper infrastructure including shortage of basic facilities like electricity ultimately lead to student attrition in rural India.
Lack of reliable electrical power forces students to resort to kerosene lamps and candles as they require adequate lighting to study at night.
Dim light, heat and the harmful smoke of the kerosene lamps adversely affect their productivity. There is also an increased risk of fire
accidents and other health risks like burns, injuries and poisonings from fuel ingestion when children handle these kerosene lamps. These
problems coupled with the apathy of parents towards the education are contributory factors to their difficulties which ultimately result in
children dropping out from school.

Project “Ujala “ is a unique programme of providing sustainable energy solutions to power the lighting needs of school going children and in
the process also creating awareness towards renewable energy sources and the importance of a clean environment.

Several villages in country either don’t have access to grid electricity or a very poor supply. For any student, the most valuable study time is
typically late in the evening or at night, in his/her home. It is during this time students may do their homework and revise chapters taught in
the school. But unfortunately, many rural communities don’t have access to something as basic as minimal lighting to meet their needs, either
because of the absence of grid infrastructure or because of unreliable supply. It address the issues of unreliable access to the grid in rural
and remote areas which causes a loss of valuable study time during school hours and at home during the night. Dim light from kerosene lamps
or candles is unsuitable for studying and the fumes and heat from kerosene lamps irritate the eyes and nose, affecting health and
concentration. There is a risk of fire accidents from kerosene lamps.

We try to identify and address issues which constrain the opportunities for their development. We believe that children are our future and we
ensure that they have all the tools needed to make their future bright and promising. One such initiative is the “UJALA – EK PAHAL” wherein
we provide free solar powered LED lamps to students of class 8 – 10 in rural India to encourage them to come to school by incentivising
attendance and providing affordable, cleaner and safer source of light, thus empowering students to learn.

SOLAR LAMPS
This innovative model makes use of three components, including solar panel, a pocket-sized portable battery and an LED study lamp, which in
turn power the LED study lamps at the students’ homes. A completely charged battery can provide 4-5 hours of bright light per day for 2 days,
thus empowering students to take charge of their education.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM

 Provides safe, bright and affordable source of light unlike the extensively used kerosene lamps which emit heat and harmful smoke.
 Helps the families save money spent on kerosene.
 Facilitates improved attendance and academic performance in schools and helps fight child labour.
 A JOINT INITIATIVE TOWARD SOCIAL CAUSE

 One lamp can be utilized by 3 to 4 children to study at home.

 Shared centralized solar charging system makes the project cost effective by reducing the expense of providing individual solar
panels for all students.
 The lights will be returned to the school after a student completes his/her education so more students are benefited.
 The lamp reduces the health issues caused by smoke and flame of kerosene lamps.

OUR AIM
Our aims to elevating the health, safety, and education of families through clean renewable solar technology & committed to bringing people
the power to raise themselves out of the darkness of poverty.

THE PROBLEM
Remote villages in the Indian sub-continent have little or no electrical power. Villagers are often reliant on kerosene or locally felled timber to
light their homes. Fumes can cause respiratory problems for both children and adults. Fumes can also cause eye problems and even
blindness. Kerosene is expensive and often causes financial deprivation.

OUR SOLUTION
We provide small self-contained solar lighting units. Our units are user friendly, portable, sustainable and affordable. As technology improves,
we are always looking at new and improved designs in terms of reliability and performance of the lights.

THE PROCESS
Village leaders in our project areas request solar lighting support. Following recommendation from local representatives every family within
the prescribed catchment area will receive a solar lamp during one of our distribution visits.

The cost of the solar lighting units is met through donations received. Recipients are encouraged to contribute a nominal sum towards the
unit. This gives value and ownership to the families concerned. Contributions received form villagers are used to repair and provide
replacements. Our technicians visit regularly to train and assist with maintenance and repairs.

THE RESULTS
 Family income is increased in real terms due to reduced fuel costs.
 Health improves as fumes cause less of a problem.
 Deforestation diminishes as there is less demand for wood fuel.
 Dependence on polluting kerosene is diminished.