I am working as an intern with Schneider Electric in market research and business development role. Project is named as ‘Access to Energy’ which expects me to do a market research for suggesting an offer roadmap for energy devices that can create a means of income to a family/household. This visit to Badayun along with Kanpur, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi, Bareilley, Nawabganj is a part of the same research.
Access to Energy initiative within Schneider Electric, caters to the energy needs of the Bottom of Pyramid population by solar lanterns, solar home system, solar water pumps, microgrids & streetlights. The most sustainable way of making continuous business is to make offers (combination of products & services) which can provide means to an income for the family or household that buys our offer. This offer roadmap is targeted to states of UP & Bihar for the next 2 years based on the field research.
Recently I was in a village named Jhuksa, tehsil-Dataganj, an unexpected guest of Shri Mor Pal, Vimal, Dhanush Pal(a marginal farmer, 2-3 bigha land holding), 40 km each from Badayun and Bareli. Last evening, I met him traveling from Badayun to Dataganj in search of Khushhali Krishi Kendra (KKK, An initiative of the last government in UP). Dataganj is only 20 km from here but all public mode of transportation ceases to run after 6 pm. Till I reached Dataganj Mandi Krishi Kendra was closed and I had no way to reach back to Bareilly where I and my manager in Schneider Electric had been staying. When they got to know that I am concerned with development of farmers and surveying about them, their need in terms of energy in agriculture, household and business (if any), all three persons – a servant in fire department of Dataganj, a co-villager of Shri Mor and Mor Ji himself in the autorickshaw discussed the issues related to them in length and breadth. When I got concerned about whether I will reach KKK on time I discussed with them the servant extended his helping hand right there and told me to come to his quarter home if I weren't able to get transport to Bareilley. Also, he requested Mor Pal ji to take me along to the KKK. Mor Pal Ji escorted me to the place only to find it closed. I had no option but to return to Bareilley via the road which passes through his village. When I and the two villagers got down from auto he requested me a visit to his home and assess the condition of electricity there.
Mor Pal Ji has 2 sons and 3 daughters. Elder daughter is married and is with her husband younger ones are with him. His elder son, Vimal, has appeared for class 12th board exam this year and is expecting to pass the exam. During a conversation with him I enquired whether he has seen a laptop and if seen has he used it. His answer was affirmative and negative respectively. He told me if he wants to learn there should be a center. Since these assets are costly a person like him cannot afford. There is no center nearby and he will have to go to Bareilley(40 km) to learn. But it seems more beneficial to him to work as a laborer for a mason and earn than to spend money on learning the computer. So, he is the second earning person in his family. Since his home is not connected to grid electricity because of corruption in subscribing to it and later paying even if some thieves get away with the cable connecting to the village they have not subscribed to it and only a LED light source lit for chores in the night. So, studying in the night is not an option. For home systems(inverter, module, battery, controller, and appliances) there is no financial support in terms of EMI or financing from the shop or any other agencies. There are no microfinancing companies working in the area. For a solar pump capital needed is around a lakh which only a big farmer can afford if need to pay at once.
I opened my laptop and surfed for Badayun district on Wiki. The page was in English and he was barely able to read it let alone understanding the stuff. I gave him to read the Hindi version of the same page and he clearly read and understood it. At that moment, I thought will he be able to cope up with increasing dominance of English in our life.
Vimal’s village has low penetration of solar equipment but streetlights are all solar powered. A milk collector from the co-operative has installed 200W system to run centrifuge and fat testing machines. More than 70% homes have not subscribed for electricity connection in the village even if the village is called electrified according to the government data. I was thinking how can a “Yojna” be successful if recipients are so clueless about it and future doesn’t seem any brighter keeping youth like Vimal in mind? There will always be a vast gap in government and agencies effort and ground result if very basic necessities like education, energy, healthcare are ineffective.
I left his home after discussing power and education status of the family and village and left for catching a transport to Bareilley. Mor Pal Ji escorted me this time as well. We waited till 8 pm for any medium to get back to my place but failed. Later, he insisted me to stay at his home and move to Bareilley in the morning as he was concerned with my safety in traveling not in a Roadways bus this time of the day. I accepted the offer and moved to his house.
We laid a cot in the front portion of the house where he keeps his cattle and fodder though a very tidy place. He requested me to change and be ready for dinner. ‘Aaloo ki sookhi sabzi’ with ‘paratha’ was waiting for us. During dinner and later as well we discussed many issues in detail with him and his son. I came to know that this area of Badaun has high crime rate and because of this, he insisted me to stay rather than go by any means to reach in haste. Now it was the time to lay in peace on the cot but mosquitos were playing their game. A net of georgette sari was arranged for my rescue. I had a comfortable sleep under stars after a long time.
In morning I was led to get fresh in ‘maidan’(around a KM from his house in open field). Fields were bare after wheat crop which compelled me to choose a corner behind Eucalyptus trees around a field. After reaching home during hand wash by mistake I used the soap which I think the family used to bath because Mor Pal Ji chose another one. Again, we sat for a ‘chai pe charcha’ with him and neighbors and got some photos clicked. Now it was the time to rush for auto to Bareilley. We bid a goodbye and before that I offered my contact number contact me whenever they feel I can be an instrument of help to him. He only asked whether will I recognize him if he calls me? I was grateful and speechless.
These incidences and situations happened with me are not unexpected for me and I think many of you readers. Many of us still come from this kind of background. The only difference is that we moved from Base of pyramid population to at least a middle-income family but many have to cross that silver line of education and opportunities.
I feel pity for students at premier colleges who look suicide as an option to get rid of problems. By these students’ intelligence, a big chunk of population would have chosen suicide in the regions other than Vidarbha but they see a hope in people like us in NGOs, government, companies and other institutions who are in a position to help them that someday they will be at par with us in opportunities and means.
I feel a need of volunteers dedicated to helping/empowering the people in villages like this in every corner of this country. Also, startups can play a vital role and some are already doing. Schneider along with Art of Living is opening electrical training centers for this purpose and Yuvacharyas in villages are playing their roles very efficiently. Many more need to come in this role.
Access to Energy initiative within Schneider Electric, caters to the energy needs of the Bottom of Pyramid population by solar lanterns, solar home system, solar water pumps, microgrids & streetlights. The most sustainable way of making continuous business is to make offers (combination of products & services) which can provide means to an income for the family or household that buys our offer. This offer roadmap is targeted to states of UP & Bihar for the next 2 years based on the field research.
Recently I was in a village named Jhuksa, tehsil-Dataganj, an unexpected guest of Shri Mor Pal, Vimal, Dhanush Pal(a marginal farmer, 2-3 bigha land holding), 40 km each from Badayun and Bareli. Last evening, I met him traveling from Badayun to Dataganj in search of Khushhali Krishi Kendra (KKK, An initiative of the last government in UP). Dataganj is only 20 km from here but all public mode of transportation ceases to run after 6 pm. Till I reached Dataganj Mandi Krishi Kendra was closed and I had no way to reach back to Bareilly where I and my manager in Schneider Electric had been staying. When they got to know that I am concerned with development of farmers and surveying about them, their need in terms of energy in agriculture, household and business (if any), all three persons – a servant in fire department of Dataganj, a co-villager of Shri Mor and Mor Ji himself in the autorickshaw discussed the issues related to them in length and breadth. When I got concerned about whether I will reach KKK on time I discussed with them the servant extended his helping hand right there and told me to come to his quarter home if I weren't able to get transport to Bareilley. Also, he requested Mor Pal ji to take me along to the KKK. Mor Pal Ji escorted me to the place only to find it closed. I had no option but to return to Bareilley via the road which passes through his village. When I and the two villagers got down from auto he requested me a visit to his home and assess the condition of electricity there.
Mor Pal Ji has 2 sons and 3 daughters. Elder daughter is married and is with her husband younger ones are with him. His elder son, Vimal, has appeared for class 12th board exam this year and is expecting to pass the exam. During a conversation with him I enquired whether he has seen a laptop and if seen has he used it. His answer was affirmative and negative respectively. He told me if he wants to learn there should be a center. Since these assets are costly a person like him cannot afford. There is no center nearby and he will have to go to Bareilley(40 km) to learn. But it seems more beneficial to him to work as a laborer for a mason and earn than to spend money on learning the computer. So, he is the second earning person in his family. Since his home is not connected to grid electricity because of corruption in subscribing to it and later paying even if some thieves get away with the cable connecting to the village they have not subscribed to it and only a LED light source lit for chores in the night. So, studying in the night is not an option. For home systems(inverter, module, battery, controller, and appliances) there is no financial support in terms of EMI or financing from the shop or any other agencies. There are no microfinancing companies working in the area. For a solar pump capital needed is around a lakh which only a big farmer can afford if need to pay at once.
I opened my laptop and surfed for Badayun district on Wiki. The page was in English and he was barely able to read it let alone understanding the stuff. I gave him to read the Hindi version of the same page and he clearly read and understood it. At that moment, I thought will he be able to cope up with increasing dominance of English in our life.
Vimal’s village has low penetration of solar equipment but streetlights are all solar powered. A milk collector from the co-operative has installed 200W system to run centrifuge and fat testing machines. More than 70% homes have not subscribed for electricity connection in the village even if the village is called electrified according to the government data. I was thinking how can a “Yojna” be successful if recipients are so clueless about it and future doesn’t seem any brighter keeping youth like Vimal in mind? There will always be a vast gap in government and agencies effort and ground result if very basic necessities like education, energy, healthcare are ineffective.
I left his home after discussing power and education status of the family and village and left for catching a transport to Bareilley. Mor Pal Ji escorted me this time as well. We waited till 8 pm for any medium to get back to my place but failed. Later, he insisted me to stay at his home and move to Bareilley in the morning as he was concerned with my safety in traveling not in a Roadways bus this time of the day. I accepted the offer and moved to his house.
We laid a cot in the front portion of the house where he keeps his cattle and fodder though a very tidy place. He requested me to change and be ready for dinner. ‘Aaloo ki sookhi sabzi’ with ‘paratha’ was waiting for us. During dinner and later as well we discussed many issues in detail with him and his son. I came to know that this area of Badaun has high crime rate and because of this, he insisted me to stay rather than go by any means to reach in haste. Now it was the time to lay in peace on the cot but mosquitos were playing their game. A net of georgette sari was arranged for my rescue. I had a comfortable sleep under stars after a long time.
In morning I was led to get fresh in ‘maidan’(around a KM from his house in open field). Fields were bare after wheat crop which compelled me to choose a corner behind Eucalyptus trees around a field. After reaching home during hand wash by mistake I used the soap which I think the family used to bath because Mor Pal Ji chose another one. Again, we sat for a ‘chai pe charcha’ with him and neighbors and got some photos clicked. Now it was the time to rush for auto to Bareilley. We bid a goodbye and before that I offered my contact number contact me whenever they feel I can be an instrument of help to him. He only asked whether will I recognize him if he calls me? I was grateful and speechless.
These incidences and situations happened with me are not unexpected for me and I think many of you readers. Many of us still come from this kind of background. The only difference is that we moved from Base of pyramid population to at least a middle-income family but many have to cross that silver line of education and opportunities.
I feel pity for students at premier colleges who look suicide as an option to get rid of problems. By these students’ intelligence, a big chunk of population would have chosen suicide in the regions other than Vidarbha but they see a hope in people like us in NGOs, government, companies and other institutions who are in a position to help them that someday they will be at par with us in opportunities and means.
I feel a need of volunteers dedicated to helping/empowering the people in villages like this in every corner of this country. Also, startups can play a vital role and some are already doing. Schneider along with Art of Living is opening electrical training centers for this purpose and Yuvacharyas in villages are playing their roles very efficiently. Many more need to come in this role.
Image1 :A makeshift to save panels from theft
Mor Pal Ji's younger son, I, Mor Pal Ji, Mor Pal Ji's cousin
A solar powered milk collecting unit in the village
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