Solar Home Lighting system for remote villages in district

This might be strange but true. 65 years after India got Independence, people living in some of the remote villages of the district are now hoping their houses to be lit up by the electricity. Thanks to the initiative of Cauvery Kalpatharu Grameena Bank (CKGB) a regional Rural Bank which is providing solar lights facility identifying such villages.

Last year the bank provided solar lights to Bommalapura, Sonahalli Haadi, Dattehalla, Machur, Golur and Thimmahoshally villages situated in HD Kote.

According to CKGB Mysore and Chamarajanagar Regional Manager Siddaramegowda the above
villages were deprived of electricity though some of this villages were erected with electric poles.
'The households in HD kote used to use candles, kerosene lamps since 40 years. Even though poles have been placed on both sides of the streets, there is no power supply. When solar lights were distributed for them, there was no end for their cherish for seeing the light first time.'

He says, 'many villages are left in lurch and are not exposed to outer world. The solar lights are not only provided to the villages which don’t have power supply. The lights are also provided to the villages which face acute power cut problems. '

'This year the bank is taking initiative to extend service for 32 villages and has completed the credit linked, solarised and insured at the eight villages. Remaining 24 villages works will be completed by March.'

Siddaramegowda said that in all the villages they have farmed Self Help Groups (SHG) adjoining the like minded people (15-20 people) to manage the issues of villages in unity. Apart this, people who could not get loan as they do not have any security to provide will be formed as group called 'Joint Liability Groups (JLG)' and provided with loans.

The bank has achieved a deposit level of Rs 2270 crores, advances level of Rs 1898 crores till December 2011. The bank is catering the financial needs of its customers through its regional Officers at Mysore, Hassan, Tumkur and Bangalore with a net work of completely computerized 215 branches under core banking solution.

The villages which will be completed by March are: CH Palya (Varuna), TP Hundi (Chandravadi), Laxmanapura (Kasuvinahally), Matadakatte (Matakere), Karehundi (Hampapura), Kothegala (Kyathanahally), Hosaheggodibeedu (Saraguru), KG Habbanekuppe (Hanagodu), Yedakuriya (Sathegala), LPS Camp (Cowdaly), Buduguppe (Hanur), Hoyee Playa (Yelandru), Shivakahallyl (Gowdally), Nijalinganapura (Arakalvadi), Kurubarahundi (Chamarajanagar), Lokkur (Hangala), Hullepura (Bommalapura), Chikkakalkini (Chidaravally), Kabbalgerehundi (Nagarle), Hethige (Hediyala), Saraswathipura (Anantharasanthe), Sannagowdanahally (Aspathrekaval), Yalachanahally (KS Gaddige), Basavattige (Hemmaragala).