End Poverty. Together, we can! - Towards A Sustainable Environment

India Today 

The Census of India 2011 reflects that 85% of rural India use firewood, crop residue and cow dung as a primary sources of fuel. These fuels have very low (11%-17%) thermal efficiency, require considerable time for collection which has an opportunity cost for the women members of the household, have immense adverse effects on the health of women and children and also cause depletion of forest cover.

The smoke released from using such fuels has been shown to lead to respiratory diseases and lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution is the single largest risk factor for female mortality, and among the entire population, it is responsible for nearly two million deaths annually.

 Mi India Intervention 

Mi India has introduced a biogas stove of 1 cubic meter capacity for rural households. This model works with vegetative biomass such as grass, leaves and kitchen waste as raw material. This requires 4 kilograms of kitchen waste or green matter dung. The daily requirement per person of bio gas for cooking is estimated to be around 0.227ccm. This stove can meet the requirements of a 5 member household by supplying gas for about one and a half hours of cooking.

Solar Lights

India Today

By 2012, a total of 4,600,000 solar lanterns and 861,654 solar powered home lights had been installed in India. These typically replace kerosene lamps and can be purchased for the cost of a few months worth of kerosene through a small loan. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is offering a 30% to 40% subsidy for the cost of lanterns, home lights and small systems up to 210 Wp. 20 million solar lamps are expected by 2022.

Mi India Intervention

Mi India aims to reach out to low income population groups with solar lanterns/ home lighting systems to provide clean, sustainable and affordable lighting systems. Mi India works with IFC certified products vendors as the solar technology provider and a lighting product to reach out to the communities with suitable solar lighting products providing lighting and phone charging facility. This would also provide livelihood opportunities for a lady village level entrepreneur (VLE).

Progress so far

Projects are launched in Lucknow, Delhi and Nalanda.

These projects include single lantern and home lighting systems based on the needs of the community.

Product vendors are from among those certified by the IFC Lighting Asia program.

Setting up local Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).

Over 18195 RE Loans have been disbursed by Partner MFIs.