A group of civil society groups launched a campaign to demand a renewable energy revolution in Bihar on October 2. The coalition of civil society groups under the banner of Bihar Renewable Energy Development Support Network is on a mission to mobilise village panchayats, youth leaders and local collectives to demand quick, quality access to sustainable power that can be delivered through local renewable energy solutions.

The campaign called Urja Kranti Yatra started from the Gandhi Ashram at Bhitiharwa, West Champaran and will go to nine other districts like Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Araria, Bhagalpur, Harnaut, Bodh Gaya, Chhapra, Ara and Patna.

Omkar Das Manikpuri, who played the role of the struggling farmer in the film ‘Peepli Live’, was also present at the launch. “With more than half of the state of Bihar lacking basic energy access, it is the duty of political parties to address the issue of energy and do so in a manner that ensures that people living in villages are not ignored. This campaign will inform and galvanise support for energy solutions that can change lives now, not five or 10 years down the line. Use your power in the election to demand renewable energy,” he told the villagers present.

The aim is to sensitise people to the merits of renewable energy, so that they can demand their political candidates and parties to include it in their agenda during the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar. It is clear that addition of large coal power plants is never going to bring electricity to the villages in the next five years. They have a right to quality power, and that can be done now by generating power right here in their village from renewable energy”, said Arpana Udupa, campaigner, Greenpeace India.