Ma Mangala Group is a self-help group in the Kakshi Kana Village of Balangir district. The SHG has 14 members out of whom 11 are using the solar lanterns bought with the help of the loan from Milaap. I was unable to meet Kuntala Nag, but met spoke to another member, Suryakanti Rana instead (hand raised). These women work on their paddy fields and also grow vegetables in small quantities, sufficient to meet their daily needs. Their household annual income varies from Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 for the group. The SHG was formed after the Mahashakti Foundation staff made the villagers aware of the benefits of using solar lanterns at their homes. The village has power, but lacks constant power supply. The administrative apathy can be seen through the fact that the sole transformer in the village went out of service 2 months back and has not yet been replaced with a functioning one. That means there is no electricity supply for the last two months in the village. The solar lanterns have really made the life easier for these women and their families in such a scenario when they otherwise would have found it very difficult to do their work after the sunset. Now they are able to work after the sunset and their children able to study under the bright light. Milaap funding has truly transformed their lives. After reaping the benefits for itself, the group now is motivating other women in the village to buy solar lanterns and have their lives transformed for better.
Ma Mangala Group
