The remote village of Naronggre in Garo Hills, India, has been transformed thanks to a pilot initiative launched by the Chief Minister and implemented by the Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE). The project, which aims to transition local communities to more sustainable cooking methods, has introduced solar electrification and India’s first solar power electrical pressure cookers to the village. Prior to this, the villagers relied on firewood for cooking, with women having to walk two to three kilometers daily to collect fuel, leading to deforestation and indoor air pollution.
The project has covered over 26 households out of 50, and the Chief Minister has assured that all households in the village will be covered. The initiative has been met with great success, with the villagers expressing gratitude for the initiative, which has brought smiles back to their faces. The project is part of a larger effort to identify and implement similar initiatives in other remote villages across the state.
GHE, which has been working in the state for six years, has covered over 20,000 beneficiaries, providing them with solar lights, solar-powered computer labs, and clean cooking solutions. The project is supported by CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds, which are matched with equal funds from the state for its execution. The Chief Minister has praised GHE’s track record of serving the society and has assured that the government will continue to support the initiative.
The project’s goal is to transition local communities from traditional cooking methods to more sustainable options, benefiting both indoor and outdoor environments. While convincing communities to switch from their centuries-old cooking traditions to modern methods can be challenging, GHE has been able to persuade communities through concerted efforts. The project’s success is a testament to the positive impact that can be achieved through concerted efforts and collaborative initiatives.