An Assessment of Rural Electrification Among Different Well-Being-Ranks (With Particular Reference to Rasnalu VDC, Ramechhap)

Abstract

Every society is stratified and Rasnalu VDC is not an exception. About 4% of the total population of Rasnalu VDC is well-off (rank A), while 18% are the poorest of the poor (rank D). In Rasnalu, most of the populations belong to the Sunuwar caste while other residents include Tamang, Lama and Chhetri. The best-off segment of the population is generally living outside the community in other parts of the country or in other country. The differentials in social service consumption exist among the various strata of the society. The illiteracy rate is much higher among the rank D (poorest of the poor section) for the other ranks, their access to employment in service sector is much lower than the other groups and most of them are employed as daily wage labor. Only 67% of the households from rank D are electrified, whereas 87% of the total households from rank A are. Cut-Out system of tariff rates are favored if the service quality of the Cut-Out system is improved. Among the households that have energy meter installed, average unit consumption of the rank A is 16.75 units per month while the average consumption of the rank D is seven units. Electricity has mostly substituted battery and kerosene. Previously, a majority of the households from rank A consumed batteries worth NRs 50 per month prior to electrification, half of the total households from rank D did not have a radio/cassette. Most of the households from rank A stated that the present tariff rate is affordable while 62.5% of the households from rank D reported that it is expensive. An average number of the total bulbs and tube lights in a household of rank A accumulates to 337.5 W , whereas for rank D it is only 110.45 W. Almost all rank A households have a radio/cassette whereas only 33.3 % of the total households from rank D have radio/cassette. Thirty-eight percent (37.5%) of the households from rank A have television; 12.5% have the electric rice cooker. A majority of the households in Rasnalu VDC have not enjoyed an income or employment because of the accessibility of the electricity. Within people's perception and practice, electricity has been experienced and understood as a synonym of lighting. Relief from the burdens of kerosene and battery has been recognized as the benefits of electricity. Few households from rank C and D have benefited from the provision of electricity during the night. A large number of women (80%) from rank D have delayed their routine for going to the bed following the introduction of electricity facility and only 36% of the men have this experience. Few households believe that their children's educational performance has improved following the electricity facility. Twenty percent of the households from rank A intend to buy an electric rice cooker and the same percentage of households from rank D plan to buy radio as electronic appliances. Many people think that they can use electricity for income generating activities and employment; most of them envision running a grinding mill. Their lack of experience means their knowledge and skill regarding technologies is very weak.