North Bastar Kanker : Saur Sujla Yojana proves beneficial for Malti Bai
North Bastar Kanker. Due to the effective implementation of the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency’s (CREDA) Saur Sujla Yojana, the people of remote villages of the state are availing the advantages of renewable energy. This scheme is proving to be a boon for farmers who are getting proper irrigation facilities with the installation of solar pumps. Irrigation has become easier in remote areas with solar pumps obtained by the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). Hundreds of farmers in the district irrigate their fields by using solar pumps. Solar pumps are provided to farmers at concessional rates by the State Government’s Agriculture Department and CREDA. Priority to install solar pumps is given to such areas where electricity poles cannot be installed. The Saur Sujla Yojana has proven to give farmers greater autonomy.
Farmer Smt. Malti Bai Dhanelia of Kuwapani village in Bhanupratappur development block similarly uses solar pumps to irrigate her farm. She stated that her farm was in a hilly area, making it impossible to reach the power line. In the absence of irrigation, she relied on traditional rain-fed farming. When she heard about the Saur Sujla Yojana, she installed a three-horsepower solar pump on her land, using which she irrigated her fields and produced pulses and oilseeds. As a result of this her economic condition improved and they make a nice living from it. Along with this, she earns 50,000-60,000 rupees annually from fish farming in her private pond. Saur Sujla Yojana is playing a crucial role in changing the condition of farmers living in the Bhanupratappur area.
