Crusade

Centre for Rural Systems and Development (CRUSADE), founded in 1991, works closely with communities to alleviate poverty and to bring about sustainable changes that improve the lives and livelihoods of the poor. CRUSADE works in around 200 villages in four development blocks of Minjur, Sholavarm, Ellapuram and Gummidipoondi in rural Tiruvallur district, north of Chennai, covering 250,000 population.

Solar units

Climate Change Adaptation through use of Solar Energy

AVI (Action Village India) has initiated a new seed funding opportunity entitled ‘Partnership Solidarity Fund’ in 2023 to help partners identify innovative ideas and pilot them for learning and scaleup after success. This fund was envisaged to spur innovations and deepen the impact on thecommunities the partners of AVI are serving. AVI called for proposals for the first round of the fund inMarch 2023 from its partners. Based on the call, CRUSADE had submitted a proposal on ‘Climate Change Adaptation through use of Solar Energy (for powering households).’This pilot initiative was to promotethe use solar energy, for household level energy needs, particularly inlow income segments.

CRUSADE had extended support to seven households to install solar energy system for powering theirbasic household requirements – four tube lights, one pedestal fan and plug points. These beneficiaries were identified from women SHG members and community volunteers of CRUSADE who would allow opportunities for followup and sustenance of the initiative. While beneficiaries contributed Rs 3000 each. CRUSADE met Rs 29,000/unit from the solidarity fund(Rs. 203,000) and incurred transport and other expenses.

Its noteworthy thatCRUSADE used the people’s contribution of Rs 21,000 mobilized from beneficiaries of Home solar DCsystems, to procure single bulb solar lights with mobile charger at a cost of Rs. 1000/- per unit anddistributed to 14 households in ‘Erikarai’ village in Minjurwho live in makeshift thatch houses on common land with no electricity.For the first time since more than 10 years,the members were able to enjoy lighting in their houses. Women were able to use the light for cookingand children were delighted to use this for studying and doing their home assignments in the late night.The charged battery inbuilt light can also be taken to the fields at night helping to avoidsnakes and other poisonous insects while walking in the field.All the units are working well. If there are any issues with the system, SELCO Company quickly visit and attend to the problem.

Also single solar bulbs were distributed to 110 households based on demand at the cost price Rs.500/each. The beneficiaries include 18 hut dwellers who were living without electricity for years.

About the Solar DC system:

The domestic Solar DC system consists of 100 W, 12 V solar panel and 80 Ah, 12 V battery , LED Light 10W 1 and LED Light 5W 3 and a Pedestal fan 18W 1. Once fully charged the battery lasts for two days lighting four tube lights and a pedestal fan. During rainy days or in the absence of solar power the lights can work for eight hours and if used along with the fan can last for four hours.

The company provides one year free maintenance and service of the entire unit at site. Solar panel and battery has 5 year warranty and the lights have one year warranty. The maintenance by beneficiaries is to check and refill the battery with distilled water when needed and manual cleaning of the panel from dust for better charging of the battery.

Note: The hut dwellers were provided the single light solar light free of cost.

In partnership with AVI, CRUSADE initiated a pilot programme to promote solar energy for household needs, particularly among low-income families. This innovative effort focused on making sustainable energy accessible to resource poor families while reducing carbon footprints.

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