Distribution of solar lamps in Sankhu
Shaili Manandhar, Volunteer in Lumanti
6th May 2015
People who have survived the quake and living in the shades, tents and tarpaulins, have no access to electricity in Sankhu. A life without lights, who are used to lights, living in dark for so many days .. life becomes more painful! The night become scarier with the tremors that is still shaking all of us. Thanks to IOM for making the solar lamps available to Lumanti for distribution to the people living in the dark.
Lumanti reached out those who most need it and could make the most use of it by sharing it among few families. Solar lights are one of the best ways to access electricity as it recharges during the day with the help of sun and is ready to use when the sun goes down. Today, 42 sets of solar lamps were distributed in Sankhu. Jamuna Dangol, a well to do woman in Sankhu before the quake, now a homeless and living in a helpless situation, who walked 30 mins on barefoot to reach a local hospital to get her phone recharged, to connect with her families and friends outside Sankhu few days after the quake, now at least will find some comfort and console herself with this solar lamp.
It was very important to ensure that the neediest families get the solar lamp. Lumanti team with the help from a local woman leader, made a survey of the people living in the tents. While surveying, we saw a very few families had access to electricity and some even had inverters. Those families were not given solar lamps. After conducting the survey, the most underprivileged ones were given solar lamps. The community people made remarks saying that people have been receiving relief goods from different individuals and organizations but the distribution was not done on fair basis. Many people missed in receiving reliefs as the distribution used to be done on first come first served basis. The solar lamp distribution based on the result of the quick survey helped in choosing the neediest ones. These families really appreciated Lumanti for the survey and solar lamps.