Nuapada, a village in Odisha with more than 250 residents largely living in poverty  had not seen electricity from the power grid even after 68 years of independence. A solar lamp has replaced the stone deity of a god as the village’s most recognisable landmark. Courtesy goes to the Balangir Renewable Energy Centre, set up in 2012. The centre was established as a partnership between the ministry of new and renewable rnergy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which seeks to expand access to clean energy in rural India where an estimated 75 million rural households surviving without electricity.

At night, village elders and women gather below the lamp in the village centre. Youngsters charge their mobile phones using solar lanterns.

Families are also able to save more, no longer needing to pay between Rs 200 to Rs 300 every month on kerosene. In Salepali village of Kalahandi district, a 300W solar system provides electricity to 33 households.

More such stories are coming from villages from as many as six districts of Western Odisha.

Here is a photo blog on the UNDP success story