Page 43 - MAN KI BAAT ENGLISH

MSR-Olive Society: A Community-led

Initiative for Clean Energy in India

Recognizing India’s
contribution to a sustainable
environment, the Government of
India has taken various initiatives
to promote clean energy in the
nation. The involvement of civil
society in all such initiatives,
over the last 9 years, have been
instrumental in taking India’s
Solar Mission forward.
In his recent 'Mann ki Baat'
address, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi highlighted a praise-worthy hearts. It is a matter of pride for
initiative by MSR-Olive Society of us. I believe, every society should
Pune where the residents have take such initiatives. I believe,
decided to switch to solar energy Prime Minister’s mention of our
to generate electricity for their project will motivate a lot of
regular consumption. The society people to take similar steps.
that houses more than 200 flats, Deepali Chanchad, a
came together to install solar resident of MSR-Olive Society
panels which generates about 90 mentioned that, “Today, because
kilowatt-hour of electricity every of the Prime Minister's praises,
year. This initiative has resulted many people approach us to
in the residents saving around
know more about this project. My
Rs. 40,000 of electricity bill each
colleagues, friends and relatives
month. all want to know how much
Our Doordharshan team we invested and what was the
talked to Ravindra Akolkar, procedure. People are now more
the chairman of the MSR-Olive
interested in taking similar steps
Society to know more about the towards clean energy. We, the
initiative.
“Our society required residents of MSR-Olive Society,
are taking inspiration from the
electricity to lift drinking water
Prime Minister and are here to
and run elevators as well as to
power the lights in the premises guide people with any query.
and for other miscellaneous We are very proud that because
usage. All this costed lakhs of of him, today, people know our
electricity bills each year. In 2016, society.”
we collectively spent money to Looking forward, the success
install solar panels on our terrace. of the MSR-Olive Society in Pune
Today, we meet all our electricity serves as a great example of
requirements without worrying how community-led initiatives
about electricity bills. The way in can have a significant impact
which the Prime Minister praised on promoting clean energy and
our efforts has touched our sustainable practices.

39