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AN ENERGY VILLAGE
Anna Hazare, a retired army officer, returned to his village Ralegan
Siddhi, Maharashtra, has done an exemplary work with a multidimensional
approach in 1976. A victim of recurring drought, the village was a picture
of economic stagnation. Hazare resolved to change the conditions of his
village. He felt water was the key and so studied the topography of
the village and initiated steps to conserve rainwater. Next, soil conservation
was taken up under the state government's Comprehensive Wasteland Development
Programme. Massive tree plantation was taken up, with a survival rate
of 90 percent as compared to 50-60 percent in official programmes.
Biogas plant and smokeless chulhas were installed. Today the village has
proved its capabilities to withstand drought and has been selected by the
government as an Urja Gram (Energy village) and is entitled to technical
and financial assistance. Anna, inspite of absence of any technical training
has practically integrated all the concepts of environment conservation
like rainwater harvesting, soil conservation, wasteland development, forest
development and alternative energy development for the overall progress
of his village. Such local forces must be promoted in Panchayats and given
liberty to bring harmony between economic development and environment conservation
for the sustainable growth of their community.
Features of Energy Village
Sources of renewable energy installed in the village under this programme
are:
- 1 community bio-gas plant
- 2 solar cookers
- 1 solar water heater
- 10 solar street lights
- 163 "Samadhan" smokeless chulhas
- 10 bio-gas plants attached
to public latrines
- 1 television set energised by solar energy and
- 1 gasifier engine with
100% subsidy from the government.
- 525 acres of land is under irrigation
through 'Krishna Lift Irrigation Scheme'
- Development of three hundred
villages of Maharashtra, one in each taluka on the pattern of Ralegan.
- The Maharashtra government has set up a separate section under the
Ministry of Water Conservation under the charge of Shri Anna Hazare.
- Total area under farming increased from 630 hectares to 950 hectares.
- Village has now seven self help groups, each of 20 members.
- About Rs.
22 lakh were spent on 855 ha under social forestry program.
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