Hamlets of Shirkoli get Solar Lamps

Pune –  Picturesque Velhe, gifted with nature’s bounty and rich history, is located in Haveli subdivision of Pune district. The area is part of hilly tracts of the Western Ghats, or Sahyadri ranges. There are several villages which are located in a remote region of Sahyadri ranges in extreme backwaters of Panshet dam in Pune district, just about 65 kms from Pune. The hamlets located In the catchment area of the Panshet reservoir are unapproachable and the roads get washed out by heavy monsoon from June onwards, when in a dry season a public bus service is possibly expected.

The geographical conditions make communication difficult. The villages are in extreme poverty and away from modernity with no Electricity, no water for agriculture, no good schooling, no TV, no newspapers, no postman visiting there and no access to medical facilities. There is not a single motorcycle or bicycle in the village. Commuting for mere labour work, requires the villagers to walk at least 4 to 5 hours. The place has not witnessed any development activities due to the apathy of officials and scanty population scattered In small hamlets. Power is yet to reach these remotely located hamlets and there are several such areas in Velhe which are very poor, connected with grid and some of them have no connectivity at all.

There is no electricity in the villages and for years, these families lived In darkness. The people are primarily dependent on kerosene lamps to see In the dark. While solar power offers an opportunity to improve the social, economic, environment and health indicators of Velhe’s population, Science and Technology Park, Pune (Scitech Park) through its ‘Scitech Surya’ project has developed unique, long lasting, quick charging and low maintenance Solar LED Lamps to meet the immediate lighting requirements of tribal/rural communities. Scitech Park’s team along with the Government officials surveyed the place and identified the beneficiaries living in dark for many years. In April, 2018, Scitech Park, Pune through its Social innovation and Intervention Program, had launched various critical interventions at Chandar village in Vale taluka and on 29. October, 2018, the homes of 100 families from remotely located hamlets In the villages of Mangaon and Shirkoli will be illuminated by Solar LED lamps.

The formal inauguration function of distribution of Solar LED lamps was held on Monday, October, 2018 at 11.00 am at Shirkal Devi Temple, Shirkoli, Velhe taluka. The aim of tills project is to provide these families with high quality and clean light in the form of these solar lamps. Finally these communities will see lights in their life this Diwali and don’t have to depend on kerosene lames for lighting anymore. These lights will help the children from The project has been liberally supported by Sungard Availability Services (India) Private Limited, Pune through their CSR Initiative. tamps have been produced by kited) Park incubated company GetMy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. which is provided with SEED funding uncle, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India SEED funding programme.

The event was graced by Dr. Rajendra lagdale (Director General & CEO. Science and Technology Park, Pune), Mr. Sal Prakash (Country Manager, Sungard Availability Services (India) Pvt. Ltd.), Mr. Sourabh Jindal (Director-Finance, Sungard Availability Services (India Pvt. Ltd.), Ms. Prlya Nambudiri (Director-HR, Sungard Availability Services Pvt. Ltd, Mr. Amogh Gore (Senior Manager-Internal Audit. Sungard Availability Services (India) T,T. Ltd.), Ms. Deeptt Dole and Mr. Manoj Jadhay (BDO, Velhe), Anil Hatkar, Businessman, Mr. Subhash Kankariya, Mr. Prakash Bhandari, Sangeeta Jedhe, Sabhapati, Velhe, Shirkoli, Ms. Seema Raut, Former Sabhapati, Velhe, Ms. Sunita Pasalkar, Sarpanch.