Page 23 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022
P. 23

Modhera: India’s first Surya Gram  Kunni Deori’s saga of Solar Empowerment


 In  a  first-of-its-kind  project   the Prime Minister that he has   Solar energy has become
 Prime Minister Modi declared the   made Modhera village even   an alternate source of power
 sun-temple town of Modhera as   more famous in the country as   for many but for one resident of
 India’s  first  24x7  solar-powered   'Surya Gram'. Even if people have   Odisha, it has become her medium
 village. With the development   to spend Rs 50,000 or Rs 1,00,000   of employment and many others.
 of  Ground  Mounted Solar  power   they  should  install  solar  panels   Kunni Deori, from Karadapal
 plant and more than 1,300 Rooftop   because with these panels we   village of Kendujhar district of
 solar systems on residential   can use electricity comfortably   Odisha, is using solar energy to
 & Government buildings, the   and it also helps increase one’s   create job for many tribal women
 project demonstrates how India’s   savings.”  by training them to spin silk on a   work with two-in-one charkha
 renewable  energy  prowess  Another  resident,  Vipinbhai   solar-powered reeling machine.   machines, which could only be
 can  empower  people  at  the   Patel also shared his experience,   Our Doordarshan team got   operated if three people worked
 grassroots.  “Our village has become quite   in touch with her to know more   together. If even one person was
 Doordarshan talked to the   famous  after  Prime  Minister  about her initiative.  less then the machine would not
 people of Modhera.  Narendra Modi ji talked about   Talking about her work, she   run. At the same time, Kunal Sir
 In his recent 'Mann ki Baat'   our village. People and celebrities   said, “Right now I have started CFC   of 'Resham Sutra' gave a demo
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi   from across the country and   (Common Facility Center) where   of the Unnati Machine, which is a
 talked to Varsha Bai, a resident of   world come here. When Modi   50 girls work in one center and 80   solar silk machine, in our society.
 Modhera, about the development   ji  and  UN  Secretary  General  ji   girls in another. Here at Tusser Silk   The machine instantly caught our
 of the village through solar power.   came, our village was decorated   Park, we do a lot of activities from   attention because through this
 Varsha Bai says, “Earlier we used   extravagantly and their arrival   yarn extraction, weaving, reeling,   we  could  work  individually.  Here
 to be very careful about using   brought glory to our Modhera   designing and digital printing,   in  the  tribal  areas,  there is  not
 electricity at home, but today   village and the Sun Temple.”   from which we make sarees,   much electricity due to frequent
 we use electricity comfortably   Regarding his conversation with   dresses, jackets and many more   power cuts,  but  with  the  help  of
 because of the solar panels   the Prime Minister in ‘Mann ki   things.”  solar power, we can use electricity
 installed in our house. We now   Baat’, he says, “When I got his call,   Kunni Deori has also been   round the clock. And being a small
 use electricity with a free mind.   I got very excited. I am very proud   awarded the National Award   machine, we could all work from
 My house has all the facilities like   to have spoken to Narendrabhai   and in 2017, she also received the   anywhere.”
 washing machine, AC, geyser and   Modi and I will remember this for   award from President Droupadi   'Resham  Sutra'  innovates
 we use all this without worrying   the rest of my life.”  Murmu in a program held with the   renewable energy based rural
 about the electricity bill.”  Kusumi people.  livelihood  enabling  machines.
 Scan the QR code to know what
 While thanking the Prime   Sharing her experience with   It helps in setting up high
 more Varsha Bai has to say
 Minister, Varsha Bai said, “I would   the solar powered machines,   productivity machines for rural
 about Modhera's solar energy-
 like to express my gratitude to   led development.  she says, “Earlier we used to   silk yarn producers and textile
                                           weavers.
                                               Talking about the increasing
                                           use of solar energy in India, Kunni
                                           ji says, “Solar power panels are a
                                           one-time expenditure because
                                           the monthly electricity costs are
                                           saved. Solar power is best for
                                           remote areas and if it is used
                                           in every house, there will be
                                           electricity in all the houses at all
                                           times.
 Image for representational purpose
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