Fighting Poverty with Energy Access

Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sustainable Energy for All and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Vienna-based Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative today visited the Salt Pan Women workers of the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) to launch the Solar Salt Water Pumps initiative being implemented by SEWA to ensure sustainable energy for the poor salt workers.

This visit, follows a previous one undertaken by Under-Secretary-General Yumkella in February 2014 to the same group of women at the Great Rann of Kutch Desert to showcase how access to clean energy is helping poor women who throughout their lives have experienced energy-poverty manage their lives and thrive economically through the use of solar light.

"Eighty four years ago," said Shri Reemaben Nanavaty, SEWA Director, "the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, started the Dandi March to launch the Salt Satyagraha from Ahmedabad. That was a turning point in building an independent India" in her welcoming remarks to CEO Yumkella and other high-level dignitaries including Smt. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Smt. Anita M. George, Senior Director of the World Bank Group's Global Practice on Energy and Extractive Industries.

"Today India is the third largest producer of salt in the world, with 75% of Indian production coming from Gujarat - yet the salt workers (many of them women) who produce this salt still live in poverty," noted Shri Nanavaty as, Shri Mohinder Gulati, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the initiative on Sustainable Energy for All and Shri Alakesh Chetia, President, Sun Edison Social Innovations listened attentively.

Shri Nanavaty noted that, "Poverty continues to exist in the lives of these women because of the high cost of diesel, which forms 70 percent of their production costs. With the training provided by SEWA to its salt workers on improving their productivity, the innovative solar pump initiative will enable salt workers to finally gain economic independence - and create a positive impact in their lives including the provision of clean energy, improved productivity, reduce poverty and enable health and education opportunities for families of salt workers. Gandhiji affirmed rights of Indians to salt, as it has been made available to all by nature; today, women of Gujarat are affirming their right to solar energy - which too is made available by nature to all."

"We work and live in this desert from October to May and produce 700 tons of salt and take loans from salt traders to buy diesel for fuel, food and drinking water. In turn, the trader buys the salt, takes back his loan and then pays us," said Divuben, a salt pan worker, Dhrangadhra, District Surendranagar.

By using SEWA's Solar Pump, she noted that her income has increased from earning 22,000 to 50,000 Indian Rupees. "Now, I don't take loans and I am able to send my children to school. Part of my newfound income was also used to purchase my ticket to attend the 2014 Sustainable Energy for All Forum held in New York, USA to share my experience at the launch of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (2014-2024) where the first two years (2014 -2016) were dedicated to "Energy for Women and Children's Health and Economic Empowerment," she continued.

Said Smt. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, "The relationship between Bapu and Salt is very well known - solar energy to produce salt takes us in the direction of Sarvodaya, and thats why we must adopt it. The philosophy of Spinning, the thought of Khadi and Women Empowerment are core to Sarvodaya & Satyagraha. The initiative undertaken by SEWA to provide 400 solar pumps to salt producers is laudable. I personally thank Reemaben and SEWA for undertaking such an initiative aimed at improving productivity of salt producers."

"Energy issues are central to sustainable development. They about equity and fairness. Access to sustainable energy can mean the difference between safety and fear, freedom and servitude, and life and death. Energy and access to energy services are directly linked to the economic and social wellbeing of women," said Yumkella.

Calling on the world community to continue its efforts towards the eradication of energy-poverty and support the work of organizations like SEWA, Yumkella pointed that Sustainable Energy for All, will continue to catalyse actions. "SEWA is a strong partner of ours and we will continue to support their work in making a difference in the lives of the Salt Pan Workers and their families, "pledged CEO Yumkella.

"Empowering women and helping them breakout of energy poverty is a very valuable contribution of SEWA in Gujarat and across India and several other countries in the Region. As the World Bank group we are proud to work in partnership with SEWA the private sector, Sun Edison and the UN - our partners in Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL). Addressing Energy Poverty in a sustainable way is a key factor in meeting the twin goals of the World Bank Group of eradicating poverty and increasing shared prosperity," said Ms. Anita M. George, Senior Director of the World Bank Group's Global Practice on Energy and Extractive Industries.

"More than 17,000 salt pan workers in Gujarat currently rely on diesel pumps to earn a living," said Pashupathy Gopalan, President of SunEdison, Asia Pacific. "They are exposed to unpredictable fluctuations in diesel fuel prices which can eat into their profits and livelihood quickly. These solar water pumps provide relief from the potential rising costs of diesel fuel, and are projected to immediately produce savings which effectively increase the monthly income of salt pan workers by 10 to 20 percent. We expect that the workers can recoup the cost of the pumps in less than 4 years after which they will enjoy even greater economic benefit for the balance of the life of the pump."

In 2015, SEWA will distribute 400 solar pumps to its members which will replace the existing diesel pumps being used by them, including 200 solar pumps in partnership with Sun Edison. This will directly reduce each salt worker's expense on diesel by 60,000 Indian Rupees per year and enable them to work their way out of poverty. Over the next decade, SEWA intends to replace diesel pumps with solar pumps for all its 17,000 salt pan worker members.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords