One corner of Chattisgarh is under shade of Naxal attack on CRPF and we are at the other corner of the State to do a benefit-mapping excercise of the village-Ranidehra in Kawardha which was electrified by us.
As discussed in one of the earlier posts-"The Wall", inspite of best efforts; much alike other development interventions, project has created more opportunities for some compared to others in the village due to earlier socio-economic basing of people there. "The Wall" shared the relatively larger increase in income for the Shop owner with electrification in the village. This is very much understandable "if the development intervention can link to the livelihood opportunities it will lead to a better outcome"
This benefit mapping excercise is revealing some other learnings. Some people shared that now their children are able to study after sun-set, some children among them above 3rd class are attending the computer class within the village, some people who collect minor forest produce are able to stay for a longer period in the forest as processing work, they can now do even after sun-set under light, saving in getting their rice-dehusked in the power plant instead of going to block dehusking machine ......Most of them want to get light for more number of hours, but as shared earlier due to low productivity of Jatropha seeds (almost 10% of what was scientifically claimed when we started the project!!), its not possible to extract higher quantity of Jatropha oil and run the power plant for more number of hours.
However some are sceptical that due to this renewable energy based light, grid light is not coming to the village, so they see this as a hinderance. Grid lines have been laid in this village and other neighbouring villages since last 2 years, but due different reasons none of the villages are getting power supply from Grid, so people in this village attribute it to the renewable energy based light as a reason. But when our team asked further that if this was the reason then other villages nearby must have got the power supply as there we have not done this renewable energy based electrification and there they realize that yes this village is lucky atleast it has got light continuoously without distruption since last 3 years, even if its for a limited duration.
One startling observation was in the social space. Tribals see, taking dowry equivalent to begging. So bridegroom's family never asks for dowry but willingly bride's family gives some consumer durables. Earlier before electrfication it used to be utensils, bicycle etc and recent marriages in this village, saw marriage gifts in terms of television, cd player etc. Design of project would have possibly never had this in its agenda.
The Unintended consequences!!!!
In anycase "Bane-Bane" (Vernacular equivalent of "All is Well")
