impact evaluation of jeevika - teri & breda energy access project at gaya district of bihar
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Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
Debotosh Mahato -Young Professional
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Table of Contents
4 Introduction
5 Background of the Study
5 Location
6 Objectives and Methodology
7 Survey Analyses
7 Problem faced with the fuel used before SHS
8 Monthly Average Quantity and Expenditure on kerosene– Before and
With SHS
9 Solar Light Usage
9 Impact on Women’s Health
10 Expenditure on doctor due to health problems faced by kerosene light
11 Impact on Education
12 Impact on Livelihood
12 Respondents’ willingness to pay for higher capacity of SHS
13 Technical Failure Post Installation of SHS
14 Overall Conclusion
14 Suggestions
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Figure 1 Location of Gaya on the district map of Bihar 6 Figure 2 Problem faced with kerosene as a lighting fuel 7 Figure 3 Monthly Average Kerosene Consumption – Before and With SHS 8 Figure 4 Monthly Average Kerosene Expenditure – Before and With SHS 8 Figure 5 Duration of solar light used from SHS per day 9 Figure 6 Health problems faced by women while using kerosene lamps 9 Figure 7 Type of health problems due to kerosene light 10 Figure 8 Number of annual visits to doctor and the amount of money spent on each visit 11 Figure 9 Number of hours children studying in – Kerosene light and Solar light 11 Figure 10 Number of households generating additional income due to solar light 12 Figure 11 Respondents’ willingness to pay more for higher capacity of SHS 13 Figure 12 Inconveniences caused due to SHS 13
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Introduction
There are many areas inhabiting the Indian
states which are not or poorly connected
with national electricity grid. Lighting being
such a vital part of our lives makes it
necessary for humans to come up with some
or the other systems that help them giving
light. It is humanly impossible to work or
study in un-electrified habitations after the
sun sets, especially in rural India where
people resort to candlelight or kerosene
lamps for carrying out their activities in
evening hours. However, kerosene lamps as
a major lighting source in rural India are
found to pose several negative consequences
on the health and pocket of villagers.
Renewable energy technologies are evolving
as significant alternatives in providing clean
and efficient energy. Many public and
private sector organizations are working to
develop RE alternatives and similarly, Bihar
Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society
(BRLPS), TERI (The Energy Resource
Institute) and Bihar Renewable Energy
Development Agency (BREDA) have taken
initiatives to build and support innovative
lighting solutions using renewable energy.
The renewable energy source of which TERI
is making use of, to tackle the problems of
rural poor of Indian villages which do not
have safe and adequate means of lighting
their homes is solar energy. TERI has
transformed the lives of millions of rural
people under their LaBL - ‘Lighting a
billion lives’ program which aims to bring
light into the lives of many more people in
India and around the world by displacing
kerosene and paraffin lanterns with solar
lighting devices, and providing opportunities
for livelihoods both at the individual and
village level1.
BRLPS in partner with TERI and BREDA
aimed at enhancing social and economic
development of rural poor in villages, have
implemented solar lighting projects wherein
solar lanterns and Solar Home Lighting
Systems (SHLS) have been installed on
either a fee for service model or as a funding
facilitator basis respectively. This paper
highlights the impact study undertaken in
the villages of Gaya district of Bihar on
Solar Home Lighting Systems (SHLS) and
Solar Lanterns installed in 5500 households’
collaboration with TERI and BREDA.
1
http://www.teriin.org/index.php?option=co
m_division&task=view_area&id=46
[Accessed online on March 3, 2014]
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Background of the Study
MoU between TERI and BRLPS On 26th October, 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) was signed between TERI (The Energy Resource Institute) and Bihar Rural Livelihoods
Promotion Society (BRLPS), after which BRLPS became a ‘LaBL Partner Organization’ in
order to promote decentralized clean and more energy efficient fuel technology. BRLPS is an
independent society set up by the Department of Finance, Govt. of Bihar, working for the
improvement of livelihood of the rural poor, especially women under its JEEVIKA project.
Under this MoU, Solar Lighting Home Systems (SHS) are to be installed in 600 households of
villages that are selected by BRLPS in mutual consultation with TERI. TERI through its LaBL
program will provide technical and management inputs and upto 40% financing towards the SHS
project cost. Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS) promotes LaBL through
Village Organizations (VO) and also identify Self Help Group (SHG) members through VOs in
their operational area. BRLPS will arrange financing (balance of TERI’s contribution) towards
the project cost, either through VOs or directly from beneficiary for installation of SHS in the
site selected; and will also look into field coordination and supervision during pre and post
installation commissioning of SHS.
BRLPS has a strong network of women institution and provide a platform to initiate community
benefited activities. Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA) is the state nodal
agency for the development of renewable energy in Bihar to empower and enrich the people with
natural sources of energy. With the objective to provide the energy resources to JEEVIKA SHG
HHs, JEEVIKA and BREDA jointly took the initiatives to meet the energy need of rural
community.
Location
Gaya district was chosen as the location for initiating the pilot project of SHLS in Bihar. The 600
households under TERI-BRLPS MoU and 4900 households under BREDA-BRLPS MoU that
were identified and selected by BRLPS for the installation of SHLS under the LaBL project are
spread across Tankuppa, Bodhgaya, Mohra, Belaganj,Khizarsarai, Barachatti, Bankey Bazar and
Amas of Gaya district in Bihar. The entire project was implemented in phases stipulated within
one year. The Gaya district lies in the Gangetic alluvial plain, having a moderate climate with
good amount of hot season during the months from March to June.
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Figure 1 Location of Gaya on the district map of Bihar
Objectives and Methodology
The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the Solar Home Lighting Systems
on various aspects of rural population residing in the villages of Gaya such as economic
condition, health, education and women empowerment and overall change in the standard of
living and, further use this study to replicate the model in other un-electrified or poorly
electrified villages of Bihar.
The area of study taken into account was Tankuppa, Bodhgaya, Bankey Bazar and Amas block
of Gaya. Sample size of the population taken for analysis regarding the impact of Solar Lighting
Home Systems was 100 households. The targeted villages were selected on the basis of time
period of SHS installation. Forty households were selected from the villages where SHS is in
operation since a year or above and the rest sixty households were surveyed from the villages in
which SHS is in operation for less than a year. The selection of the villages was done on random
basis.
Primary data was collected in the form of questionnaire containing a number of close-ended and
a few open ended questions pertaining to the objective under study. The households were chosen
randomly. Questionnaires were filled personally on a field visit to Gaya. After the completion of
the process of data collection, the entire primary data was streamlined, tabulated and processed
manually and technically to draw inferences.
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Survey Analyses
This section describes the major inferences drawn from the responses received from the data
collected through questionnaire
Problem faced with the fuel used before SHS
As shown in the chart below, 99% of the respondents felt that the major problem with using
kerosene as a lighting source is its low illumination. Followed by this, 60% of respondents also
think kerosene cost as a problem because they have to buy extra kerosene which is allocated in
the ration card from private dealers and that cost ranges from Rs.40-50 per litre. Distance of
collecting kerosene from depots was also considered as a problem by 57% of respondents. Many
households are located 4to8 kms away from kerosene depots and 31% respondents also
mentioned that availability is also a problem in the sense that, even after reaching the depot; it is
difficult at times to get the kerosene.
Figure 2 Problem faced with kerosene as a lighting fuel
On the basis of general interaction with the SHS users regarding the problems faced due to
unavailability of proper light after sunset, the major problems found to be were of not being able
to do household chores in dark and travelling to shops to charge cell phones for Rs. 3 to 5 per
day.
Any problem with the kerosene fuel?
Low illumination
Cost
Distance
Availability
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Monthly Average Quantity and Expenditure on kerosene– Before and With SHS
The survey shows that the average monthly kerosene consumption of 100 households before
SHS was 4.6 litres which reduced to 2.1 litres along with SHS. Similarly, the average monthly
expenditure on kerosene for the surveyed households also decreased from Rs.163 to Rs. 54. This
particular analysis is significant in the view to find the cost of recovery of SHS which is Rs.
3000. Like, if we take into account the average amount of money saved on kerosene (163 – 54 =
Rs.109) and the amount of money saved on charging of cell phones (5*15 = Rs.75, if we assume
the average amount charged for cell phone charging and minimum of 15 days on which users go
to the shop), the total money saved per month will be Rs. 184. This deduces that the cost of SHS
can be recovered in around one year and five months. Also, 89% of the respondents believe that
the money spent earlier on kerosene for lighting source is saved after installing solar light.
Figure 3 Monthly Average Kerosene Consumption – Before and With SHS
Figure 4 Monthly Average Kerosene Expenditure – Before and With SHS
0
1
2
3
4
5
Before SHLS
With SHLS
Ke
rose
ne
co
nsu
mp
tio
n in
litr
es
Monthly average quantity of kerosene
Monthly average quantity of kerosene
020406080
100120140160180
Before SHS With SHS
Ke
rose
ne
exp
en
dit
ure
in IN
R
Monthly average expenditure on kerosene
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Solar Light Usage
The chart below shows the number of hours for which the solar light is used in a day. The
majority of the respondents are using solar light between 4 to 6 hours which comprises of 68% of
the sample size. This shows that users are using SHS to its full potential and majority of the
sample size are aware of the fact that using solar light for more than 6 hours will decrease the life
of the battery.
Figure 5 Duration of solar light used from SHS per day
Impact on Women’s Health
Respondents were asked whether the women faced any health problem while working in
kerosene light. Out of 100 respondents, 43 women believe that they faced health problems due to
kerosene light, 12 women thinks that their health problems might be due to kerosene light but
were not too sure and 45 women were of the view that they did not face any health issue while
working in kerosene light.
Figure 6 Health problems faced by women while using kerosene lamps
25%
69%
3% 3%
Duration of solar light used in a day (in hours)
2 to 4
4 to 6
6 to 8
above 8
Any health problem using kerosene lamps?
Yes
No
May be
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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The following figure shows the type of health problems the respondents thinks the women have
faced due to or may be due to kerosene light. Out of 55 women, majority of the women that is,
31 were affected by the problem of blackened nostrils, 24 women were faced with the problem
of watery eyes and 7 women also got other problems such as coughing and breathing problem.
Figure 7 Type of health problems due to kerosene light
Expenditure on doctor due to health problems faced by kerosene light
Out of 43 women who believed that they got health problems from using kerosene lamps, 19
consulted a doctor for those problems. Out of those 19, there are 6 women who visited doctor
1to2 times annually, 8 women who made 2to4 visits to doctor in a year, 2 women went 4to6
times and 3 women have made more than 10 visits to doctor annually due to health problems
faced by kerosene light. The graphical representation below also shows that majority of the
women have spent more than Rs.150. This is due to the fact that doctors are mostly not available
in the village and for each visit; the person had to travel to town.
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Type of health problems due to kerosene light
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Figure 8 Number of annual visits to doctor and the amount of money spent on each visit
Impact on Education
Out of 100 surveyed households, 74 households have children enrolled in schools.
Out of those 74 households, children of 64 (87%) households have an increased interest in
studies. The survey analysis shows that there is certainly an increased interest in studying among
the school going children since the solar light have been installed in their homes. Earlier, when
there was only kerosene as a lighting source then out of 74 respondents, children of 10
respondents did not study and majority of children i.e., 61 used to study for less than two hours
whereas, now in solar light majority of children study for 2to4 hours and there is no such
category of children not studying at all.
Figure 9 Number of hours children studying in – Kerosene light and Solar light
Number of visits to doctor (annually)
1 to 2
2 to 4
4 to 6
6 to 10
above 10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
The amount of money spent on each visit
Number of hours children studying in
kerosene light
Do not study
Below 2 hr
2 to 4 hr
4 to 6 hr
Number of hours children studying in
solar light
Do not study
Below 2 hr
2 to 4 Hr
4 to 6 hr
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Impact on Livelihood
Respondents were asked if any additional income is generated because of installing solar light in
their homes. Out of 100 households, 6 households were found in which solar light had a direct
impact on generating additional income of the household.
Figure 10 Number of households generating additional income due to solar light
Respondents’ willingness to pay for higher capacity of SHS
The concluding question asked to SHS users was if they would like to buy SHS with higher
capacity (By higher capacity, villagers expect a fan and one or two more light points) and if yes,
then how much more they can pay above what they are paying for the current SHS. Out of 100
surveyed households, 81 respondents were willing to pay more for higher capacity. Out of those
81 respondents, 25 could pay between Rs.1000-2000 more, 25 could pay between Rs. 2000-3000
more, 14 could pay between Rs.3000-4000 more, 7 were of the view that they will pay what
Jeevika will decide for the community and 5 would like to pay Rs.500 for 1 more light point. The
table below depicts the income group of the surveyed households on the basis of their idea of
monthly income. It shows that every household earns above Rs.3000 per month and majority of
them earns between Rs. 5000-7000. This data is useful for deciding on the amount of new SHS
with higher capacity incase to be installed in the same region or adjoining regions of Gaya
district.
Number of households generating additional income due to Solar light
Yes
No
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Figure 11 Respondents’ willingness to pay more for higher capacity of SHS
Technical Failure Post Installation 0f SHS
Out of 100 surveyed households, 11 households faced some kind of inconveniences with SHS
such as flickering of bulb, malfunctioning of charge controller or battery, problem in mobile
charging point and system not working. Out of 11 fault cases, 1 fault was rectified on immediate
basis, 2 faults were addressed promptly but the problem occurred again and for the rest 8 cases,
faults were not rectified since months. In the village of Nawa, Bodhgaya it was found out that in
three surveyed household the system stopped working just after a couple of days from
installation. Also, on the basis of interaction with the bookkeeper of this village, it was found out
that during the second phase installation of SHS in 17 households of Nawa village, 15
households did not get any mobile charging facilities, many batteries had rust on them and many
households are facing problem of charge controller malfunction.
Figure 12 Inconveniences caused due to SHS
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Amount they are ready to pay more
Type of technical failure
Bulb flickering
Charge controller malfunction
Battery malfunction
Problem with mobile charging point
Impact Evaluation of JEEViKA - TERI/BREDA Energy Access Project at Gaya District of Bihar
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Overall Conclusion
The study found that there are number of positive impacts of SHS on rural households. The study
found that: first, all users are satisfied with the brightness of the light and happy with the fact that
now their homes are lighted and they have somewhat a control over its usage unlike grid
electricity supply which is highly erratic. Also, households having both SHS and grid electricity
among sample size are satisfied more with SHS as they consider grid connection highly
unreliable and are of the view that if they are given higher capacity with solar like a fan then they
would like to get rid of being grid consumer; second, the school going children are studying
more in solar light (more than 2 hours) as compared to not studying at all or at the most an hour
in kerosene lantern light; third, solar light has helped creating small income generating activities
such as sewing and grocery shops; and fourth, health effects such as blackened nostrils, red eyes,
coughing and watery eyes previously observed during usage of kerosene as a lighting fuel have
gone down to almost zero after using solar light.
Suggestions
On the basis of general observation and interaction with the villagers, following are few
suggestions which might be of use to both TERI and BRLPS for the effective management of
system and can further help in positive outreach of SHS as a model –
Post – installation services needs to be more strengthened in terms of addressing complaints of
SHS users and rectifying faults on time.
Every user must have a user manual which should be read out and explained properly during
VO meetings. Majority of users have no idea about do’s and don’ts for system handling and that
panels need to be cleaned. Refresher training by a technician or trained personnel can be given
regarding the system handling and maintenance.
Two lighting points should be distributed to cover two different rooms or corners of the house.
Casing of lights has opening allowing insects to infest the system, gradually lowering the
visibility.
Few users did not have clarity regarding the payments method and complained regarding the
interest. This requires clear and transparent sharing of information on a same platform for ruling
out the possibility of blames made by users related to ambiguous payment instructions.