Page 68 - Mann ki Baat (English)
P. 68

class families. Arun Kumar, a
                                          resident  of Sardhana  tehsil in
                                          Meerut, is a small farmer. Once
                                          troubled by monthly electricity
                                          bills  of  ₹2,500  to  ₹3,000,  Arun
                                          is now known in his area as an
                                          ‘energy provider.’
                                              Speaking     about    his
                                          transformative journey, Arun
                                          Kumar says:
                                              “My wife is a teacher. With
                                          her support, I adopted the
        of Kutch, they have envisioned    ‘Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar
        the ‘Shakti Solar Park.’ Speaking   Muft Bijli Yojana,’ and now my
        about this unique initiative, Hina   electricity bill has come down
        tells:                            to zero. With these savings, we
            “This 2.7-megawatt  ‘Shanti   are able to easily manage other
        Solar  Park’  will  be  the  first  of   household expenses. I am also
        its kind in the world, where our   selling my surplus electricity
        women themselves will be the      now. So far, I have received files
        owners and managers, and          from more than 50 people who
        the income generated from         want to join this scheme. It feels
        electricity production will be    very good to see that people
        shared among them. So far, we     listen to me and trust me.”
        have trained 1,250 women as           Today, Arun has become
        Solar PV technicians. We want     a strong advocate of clean
        thousands of women like Payal     energy in his area. He explains
        to become entrepreneurs and       how solar panels  have  freed
        stand on their our feet.”         him from the burden of heavy
            Hina  believes  that  the     electricity bills and empowered
        changing    environment   and     him as a self-reliant citizen.
        the   growing   adoption    of
        solar energy have brought
        a  new  ray of hope  for  these
        women, ensuring that they no
        longer have to feel helpless or
        dependent on anyone.
            Arun Kumar: An Ordinary
        Farmer from Meerut Turned
        ‘Energy Provider’
            The solar energy revolution
        is not limited to technical jobs
        alone; it is also creating a path
        to financial freedom for middle-

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