The inaugural function of OIL Urja Solar Solution Happy Home Programme, a CSR Project of Oil India Limited, Duliajan which is being implemented by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) was held at Mirigaon village of Dibrugarh district, recently, a press communique stated.
The programme was graced by Binod Hazarika, MLA, Chabua constituency, Mrinal Kanti Dhar, DFO Tinsukia Division, Pranjit Deka, Executive Director (HR&A), OIL, Abhijit Sharma, Director, IIE and attended by senior officials from OIL & IIE and general public of Mirigaon village.
Binod Hazarika in his speech appreciated OIL’s initiative towards providing Solar Solutions to the remote un-electrified village of Mirigaon.
While stating the objective of the project that is to electrify the remote un-electrified villages of Upper Assam, Pranjit Deka in his address also informed that Solar Happy Home Package will be provided to a total of 520 households in three villages namely Mirigaon, Gereki Gaon and Gereki Nepali Gaon under Dibrugarh District and the anti poaching camps in forest areas of Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Tinsukia District.
Deka also apprised the gathering about various CSR initiatives of OIL undertaken in areas of education, health, skill building, sports, etc., in its operational areas.
Under Project OIL Urja, OIL has launched a programme focusing on Solar Lighting Solution and Clean Cooking in alignment with the MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. Of India) under Happy Home Package, the communiques further said.
The project currently is being implemented by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati in Mirigaon, Gereki Gaon & Gereki Nepali Gaon under Dibrugarh District targeting a total of 452 of households at a total cost of Rs. 1,99,37,416.00.
Besides this, 68 solar units will also be provided in 23 anti poaching camps in Forest areas of Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Tinsukia District at a total cost of Rs. 32,34,744.00.
A total of 286 households in Mirigaon have been installed with solar units wherein each unit includes a solar photovoltaic panels of 75 Wp, Battery of 12 v, 60 AH, 2 LED Bulb of 5W each, Solar Energy lantern and a Biomass Cook stove.
During the installation process an awareness programme was also organised to explain the benefits and other details of the project to the opinion makers of the society like village headman, teacher, and headmaster etc. Subsequently, meetings were held with the villagers involving every member of the households.
Under the project, four local enterprising persons per village will be selected and trained on maintenance and service of solar home lighting systems and other. Their skill building will be a part of their involvement during the installation phase. These trainees will be skill trained to attend to minor and instant repair, maintenance and small issues on site.
Gradually after a year, the trainees will be helped to set up a service centre to cater to the needs of maintenance and service of all the proposed solar solutions provided under the package. For providing this service to the beneficiaries a minimal amount of money as service charge will be charged.
The main objective of the project is to reduce indoor air pollution due to burning of fire wood, reduce use of kerosene or firewood for lighting & cooking, provide adequate lighting facility to enable evening study for school & college going children, enable the weavers’ community to continue work in the evening.