The UBA team of Bhairab Ganguly College made a pilot survey to ascertain the needs of the village people. From door to door visit, it was found that in the absence of electricity connection and people’s poverty to acquire it, security at night in this jungle surrounding the village is at risk. Also, school-going children cannot continue their studies after the evening. So, it was decided to provide solar lanterns to them so that their homes have light after dusk and their children can pursue reading in the evening. So, in this way, through one solution two issues have been resolved - now villagers can securely walk on kutcha roads after night and children also can pursue study at night.
This project was implemented after receiving the grant under ‘Installation of Solar Lights for illumination’ under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. 40 solar lanterns were distributed among school-going children. Besides, enabling learning facilities, the lanterns also secure walking at night in this village surrounded by forests. Previously, the area which has no street light, the villagers had a risk of coming out of home, as the villages are surrounded by dense forests.
As darkness prevailed all over the villages, outdoor activities were almost absent. Now they can go out with the lanterns for different purposes. In cases of emergency, these lamps help
them to remove darkness and go for work, seeking medical help or meeting neighbours in need.
Learning at night has helped the children prepare studies for their school. Adults interested in learning can also do so in the evening after day-long work. Knitting sal plates have also been possible even during the evening which helps them to raise their income. Cooking at night has also become easier.
Outcomes
The villagers are happy to have the solar lantern as it does not require costly refilling and can be re-charged in sunlight; their children are also happy as they can study in the evening for their school lessons.
The college distributed Knitting machine and Dice machine and arranged training program for making sal plates that has increased the earning of the villagers of Javi, college adopted village.
Fig 1: UBA team interviewing the villagers
Fig 2: Discussion with the villagers about UBA activities 
Fig 3: During Plastics Free Campaign with villagers 
Fig 4: Villagers of Bagdiha with Solar Lanterns 
Fig 5: Training of making sal plate by Knitting Machine
