The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Hundreds of solar power units set up so far in 60 remote and hardly reachable char villages in five districts of greater Rangpur on the Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dharla basins have brought an overall change in life-style of the isolated people.

Over 30,000 char people are presently using over 3,500 solar power units set up under the assistances of different NGOs in the char villages of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts to help change their lifestyle in last couple of years.

Reputed NGOs including BRAC, Grameen Shakti, Rangpur- Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), Protyasha, Aspect and many others have installed these solar-power units at a cost of Taka 12,000 to Taka 35,000 each on down payment basis.

Grameen Shakti have so far installed a total of 196 solar power units including 102 units in Chilmari UP and 94 units in Astamir Char UP and more 12 Organic Fertiliser producing plants at different places in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram alone during the past one year.

People of Hatia, Buraburi, Anantapur, Bazra, Gunaigach, Char Santoshbiram and Khamar Damarhat villages under Ulipur upazila in Kurigram are now using over 70 solar units provided by BRAC on easy installments.

Similarly, people of more 40 char villages in 13 upazilas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts are now using solar power under the assistances of the NGOs.

The solar power users told BSS that they could hardly think about electricity in these remote and sandy char areas. But it is now a reality as anybody can avail of this facility in these near inaccessible villages.

The villagers, sole owners of these power units, neither suffer from low-voltage, nor get irritated due to load shedding like those living in cities and villages in other parts of the country.

By virtue of these solar power units, the char people are now watching TV programmes, lighting bulbs, using fans, refrigerators and calendars, charging mobile phone sets and operating computers side by side with other daily jobs.

Local elite as well as UP members said, the people of these char villages were in fact getting rid of centuries' old superstitions and social curses as they were increasingly becoming aware about the realities of life by seeing the popular TV programmes.

People are also becoming more aware about the bad effects of child marriages, malnutrition of the pregnant women and children, reasons of maternal and child mortality, adverse effect of dowry and many other social odds by watching TV programmes using these solar power units, they said.

More and more subscribers are getting connected with the solar power system, as they prefer it for the lowest cost and excellent service.

Students said, now their study at night is not hampered at all thanks to the uninterrupted service of these solar power units. None here has ever suffered even during inclement weather, they said adding that the demand for solar power is increasing day by day in these char villages.

They suggested establishment of higher capacity solar power units as the substitute energy sources not only in these char areas to help flourishing cottage industries but also in the mainland to reduce pressure on the limited electricity being generated by the Power Plants throughout the country.

The NGO officials told BSS that people are showing increased interest towards setting up of more solar power units in these char villages as well as in other parts of the district and adjoining areas.

While talking to BSS solar unit users of Grameen Shakti Bimola Khatun, 36 and Noor Alam, 45 of village Byaparipara, Saiful Islam, 40 of village Khamar Bari and many common villagers of various chars in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram told that they are now getting uninterrupted supply of power using the solar technology.

"We are now lighting our houses with electric bulbs, enjoying TV programmes and knowing about our country and abroad and our children studying at nights without any problem," they said.