The Star Cement through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative has now ventured into Sakhri village under Narpuh Elaka to brighten the nights of villagers, who for long has been under darkness sans electricity.
The initiative was undertaken this month by installation of solar lights in all the homes and solar street lamps.
“We are delighted as the village, where people were living in darkness for so many years, has been equipped with solar lights,” Waheh Shnong of Sakhri, Nildis Tongper said.
He said earlier villagers have to walk with the help of cell torches. What makes walking in the village difficult is also lack of a proper road.
Tongper said the village gets help from the company, through its excavators to clear the road during the monsoon to enable only pickup trucks to ferry people and essentials. He added that the village is accessible only during the winter months.
Secretary Enos Sdor said with solar lightning, residents can now beat the heat as they can now use fans.
Management Representative of the company, Devander Bansal informed that the through its CSR an amount of over Rs 37 lakh was spent to procurer solar lamps each that costs around Rs 60,000.
It may be mentioned that six villages have been identified by the Star Cement to provide solar lightings. Besides Sakhri, the CSR initiative will also cover Lum Tongseng, Sonapyrdi, Khaddum and Lumshnong.
Last year, Pandare village with 200 households were illuminated after 20 years ever since it was established in 2003.