Lighting lives after sunset

Supported by the International Finance Corporation, the Surjo Baati campaign reaches far flung non grid areas of Bangladesh with the option of solar lanterns that promise to light up lives after sunset

Deep within the Niphamari district, in a village called Dakshin Khoribari under Dimla upzilla, the Jotua Khata High School is at the center of a social movement engaging villagers from all ages.
 There is a buzz of excitement all around this area not covered by the national power grid.
The palpable thrill centers around a group of energetic young men and women dressed in the vivacious colour of the sun – they are tireless promoters of the Surjo Baati or solar lights.  With support from the International Finance Corporation, the Lighting Bangladesh campaign is currently carrying out a countrywide advocacy of quality assured solar based products under the title ‘Surjo Baati’ with  offers to cut through the darkness and bring light into rural homes in remote areas.
In the afternoon, in a large classroom filled with students from the nearby villages, brand promoter Meem expounds on the uses of a variety of solar lights available.
“Some of these lights can be taken apart and used as ‘separate easy to carry’ components,” she says, breaking down a light to the size of small mirror.
The campaign aims to give details about the lights to young students who can later go on and discuss with their guardians the utility of such devices in their homes.
When asked why so much importance is being attached to familiarising students of high schools to the benefits of the products, Muhammad Taif Ul Islam, operations officer of IFC, explains: one of the major needs in rural areas without power is light for students who have to study in the evening and, once they realise the importance, their parents and relatives will take interest.
He also informs that each product on offer has been carefully selected and had to pass rigorous tests emphasizing on safety, user convenience and light providing time frame.
For promoters Mim and Limon, the task is getting the message across to students so that they understand what the myriad of products can offer.  
“One of our approaches is to have a quiz at the end of a session where winners are given prizes,” observes Limon.
Once there is the chance of winning something, students pay extra attention, she adds.
The students become extra attentive when Meem shows how one of the devices storing solar power can also be used to charge mobile phones – an indispensable electronic tool for rural communication.
The teachers of the Jotua Khata High School have also been very cooperative in supporting the Surjo Baati drive and, after dark, offer the school’s playing field for setting up a large screen to show short films on solar power usage.   
A few hundred yards from the school, a late afternoon advocacy session is arranged for housewives where promoters use popular games like snakes and ladders to pass across the multiple uses of solar lanterns.
“The goal is to ensure awareness at all levels so that people understand that bringing light into their homes or business is not out of reach,” observed Salman Zahir, another IFC official also working to sensitize NGO workers about Surjo Baati.
As late afternoon morphs into evening, villages are engulfed in darkness but the school field is alight with the campaign team, who have set up a large screen and a music system.
Soon, droves of men and women begin arriving at the school ground to have a post sunset infotainment.
For village women who often have limited activity after dark, such campaigns provide a situation to go out in the evening, meet others and have an informal gathering, observed one of the promoters.
The campaign also reaches the bazaars and, in Moheshkhocha market in Lalmonirhaat, the Surjo Baati promoters get cracking from 10 am in the morning to spread information about solar lanterns among traders and business owners.
Commenting on the affordability of the lanterns, one promoter said: they are not expensive but considering their rising need, if the VAT is scrapped then the prices will be within the reach of a larger group of rural people.
According to promoter Limon, so far, work is underway in 18 districts with plans for 26 more in the future and the response has been highly positive.
In the deep rural areas of north Bengal, a group of young campaigners are going from village to village sensitizing students, mothers and traders and, as each day pass, the once impenetrable blanket of darkness is slowly being punctured by the captured light of the sun.  
      
The writer is a journalist working in the development sector

Lighting lives after sunset

Supported by the International Finance Corporation, the Surjo Baati campaign reaches far flung non grid areas of Bangladesh with the option of solar lanterns that promise to light up lives after sunset

Deep within the Niphamari district, in a village called Dakshin Khoribari under Dimla upzilla, the Jotua Khata High School is at the center of a social movement engaging villagers from all ages. There is a buzz of excitement all around this area not covered by the national power grid. The palpable thrill centers around a group of energetic young men and women dressed in the vivacious colour of the sun they are tireless promoters of the Surjo Baati or solar lights. With support from the International Finance Corporation, the Lighting Bangladesh campaign is currently carrying out a countrywide advocacy of quality assured solar based products under the title Surjo Baati with offers to cut through the darkness and bring light into rural homes in remote areas. In the afternoon, in a large classroom filled with students from the nearby villages, brand promoter Meem expounds on the uses of a variety of solar lights available. Some of these lights can be taken apart and used as separate easy to carry components, she says, breaking down a light to the size of small mirror. The campaign aims to give details about the lights to young students who can later go on and discuss with their guardians the utility of such devices in their homes. When asked why so much importance is being attached to familiarising students of high schools to the benefits of the products, Muhammad Taif Ul Islam, operations officer of IFC, explains: one of the major needs in rural areas without power is light for students who have to study in the evening and, once they realise the importance, their parents and relatives will take interest. He also informs that each product on offer has been carefully selected and had to pass rigorous tests emphasizing on safety, user convenience and light providing time frame. For promoters Mim and Limon, the task is getting the message across to students so that they understand what the myriad of products can offer. One of our approaches is to have a quiz at the end of a session where winners are given prizes, observes Limon. Once there is the chance of winning something, students pay extra attention, she adds. The students become extra attentive when Meem shows how one of the devices storing solar power can also be used to charge mobile phones an indispensable electronic tool for rural communication. The teachers of the Jotua Khata High School have also been very cooperative in supporting the Surjo Baati drive and, after dark, offer the schools playing field for setting up a large screen to show short films on solar power usage. A few hundred yards from the school, a late afternoon advocacy session is arranged for housewives where promoters use popular games like snakes and ladders to pass across the multiple uses of solar lanterns. The goal is to ensure awareness at all levels so that people understand that bringing light into their homes or business is not out of reach, observed Salman Zahir, another IFC official also working to sensitize NGO workers about Surjo Baati. As late afternoon morphs into evening, villages are engulfed in darkness but the school field is alight with the campaign team, who have set up a large screen and a music system. Soon, droves of men and women begin arriving at the school ground to have a post sunset infotainment. For village women who often have limited activity after dark, such campaigns provide a situation to go out in the evening, meet others and have an informal gathering, observed one of the promoters. The campaign also reaches the bazaars and, in Moheshkhocha market in Lalmonirhaat, the Surjo Baati promoters get cracking from 10 am in the morning to spread information about solar lanterns among traders and business owners. Commenting on the affordability of the lanterns, one promoter said: they are not expensive but considering their rising need, if the VAT is scrapped then the prices will be within the reach of a larger group of rural people. According to promoter Limon, so far, work is underway in 18 districts with plans for 26 more in the future and the response has been highly positive. In the deep rural areas of north Bengal, a group of young campaigners are going from village to village sensitizing students, mothers and traders and, as each day pass, the once impenetrable blanket of darkness is slowly being punctured by the captured light of the sun. The writer is a journalist working in the development sector