Master blaster brings light to life of many here in Belthangady

Belthangady: Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has not won the hearts of millions through his superior gaming skills, but in Dakshina Kannada district, people love Sachin for his social work that has changed their lives.

Belthangady, one of the naxal infested areas in Dakshina Kannada district has not seen development the way other regions have. The reason being, the stringent rules and regulations of the Forest Department, as most of this region falls in the Kudremukh National Park area.

Though the government has been allocating funds to bring about development it is not reaching the targeted area, hence basic necessities like road, electricity, telephone connectivity and water supply have been a distant dream for the residents living here.

However, an organization which has joined hands with Sachin Tendulkar has come forward to provide solar lights to the naxal infested areas under its project named 'spreading happiness'. While some families have been provided with solar lights in Udupi district, the distribution of solar lights will be done at Malavanthige on November 30. As many as 202 families will be provided with the lights.

Each family will be given a solar panel costing Rs 5,000, battery and other equipment free of cost. The families can use solar energy to even charge their mobile batteries. On November 16, 150 families in Kollur, 28 families in Chitoor, 100 families in Jadkal were given solar lights.

Schneider Electric Country Partner Dr Shalini Sarin has been supervising this work and Sachin Tendulkar has willingly joined hands in providing this natural source of energy to people. The entire cost of the project is borne by Mr Tendulkar himself.

As many as 202 families in Elaneeru, Suruli, Bolle, Badamane, Guthyadka, Daipithilu, Addethodi, Madalamakki areas in Malavanthige, 209 families in Aladangadi panchayat, 46 families of Naravi panchayat will receive solar lights in December.

A total of 457 houses in Belthangady will get in facility in specific, while a total of 735 families will receive the facility during the first phase in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district.

Failure

Though several families in the region were once given with solar lights, they have not put the equipment to use. Most of the families here have their own individually developed mechanisms in place to produce power using mini hydro electric set up. They have been using television and electric bulks by using the hydro electric power generated by themselves. In such a case one has to wait and watch if the people will accept solar power at this juncture of time.