Status of Solar Home System in Rural Community: A Case Study of Phoimahadev Vdc, Kalikot, Nepal
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Department of Rural Development
Abstract
Due to the remoteness and lack of adequate infrastructure development, most places of
Karnali zone and adjoining districts have poor access to electricity. Moreover, extension of
grid electricity in those areas is very expensive. Besides, the people living in these areas have
very low income.Therefore, they could not afford for Solar Home System(SHS) and MicroHydro
Power
(MHP)making
them bound mainly to rely on the kerosene lamp, “Jharo”(Pine
wood rich in latex) and dry cell for lighting. Those traditional lighting systems affect
environment surrounding them as well as their health adversely. Some organizations have
been involved in disseminating different kinds of “Tuki” (Tuki in Nepali means lamp)
running from the dry cell which were not tested and not guaranteed to run. Also, there is no
assurance of the after sales services.
This present research has made an attempt to find out the status of SHS in PhoimahadevVDC,
interest of people to install SHS, types of benefits that they are gaining their socio-economic
status and operational status of SHS. Likewise, annual income of SHS users and non-users,
income sources of SHS users and non-users, various uses of SHS and energy consumption
analysis of Phoimahadev VDC has also been studied. The data for the research have been
collected from primary sources and secondary sources. There are 617 Households in
Phoimahadev VDC and 149 households in ward no. 8 & 9. In the study area, 102 households
have been benefited from solar energy. Among them fifty households were selected from
users and 10 households from non-users as a sample using simple random sampling method.
Altogether 60 respondents were selected for the study purpose.Structured questionnaires,
semi-structured interview, observation and focus group discussion methods were used as
tools for the data collection. On the basis of the collected qualitative and quantitative data, the
analysis and interpretation is done.
The finding shows that larger proportions of the respondents are male Brahman, Chhetri
Thakuri and Dalit (users and non-users of SHS). Agriculture is predominant occupation of
respondents but not the sufficient one in terms of income. Besides agriculture, labor,
government job, small industry, business, service are the other occupation followed by the
respondents. Almost half of the respondents could not meet the SHS cost from their annual
savings. This indicates financial support package should be launched with SHS extension
programs. Children are the main beneficiaries and improvement in study environment is the
major gain. Better lighting has provided longer study time and facilitated guardians in
coaching their school going children at night. SHS has also increased female members’
ability to accomplish more household chores because of better lighting and longer working
hours. SHS has created the rural employment opportunity to the local community in repairing
and maintaining SHS sets. Around half of the respondents perceive that local people are
capable to run SHS repairing workshop in the village.“Jharo” and “Tuki”were commonly
used lighting devices before installation of SHS. The study revealed that majority of the
respondents have installed SHS for the sake of better lighting followed by kerosene
expenditure saving and social prestige. Access to information is another important impact of
SHS. Easy access to audio visual devices such as radio/cassettes, mobiles and TV have made
the households better informed and enhanced their knowledge and skills.Installation of SHS
has also improved indoor environment for most of the respondents. Smoke free environment
has brought better health condition especially by reducing respiratory and eye related
problems. However, few incidences of acid burning has emerged causing minor problems to
family members, properties and their belongings.