Bhubaneswar: “Energy access for every citizen is still to be achieved and a day dream for many who lives at various remotest part of the state and country. A bottom up approach of energy planning, financing and implementation is the need of the hour, opined the guests at the launch of Pooor People’s energy outlook (PPEO) 2017 here at Bhubaneswar. The facts about usage of energy is much shocking as mentioned by many at the report launch ceremony and discussed, the recommendations of the report which are much relevant and contextual for Odisha and India.
Launching the PPEO 2017, Chief Guest, Shri Sangramjit Nayak, DMA, Director – Housing & ex Officio Joint Secretary, Government of Odisha said, “though Government has been putting much efforts in bringing more renewable energy plans and creating scope for such intervention, the operation and maintenance has been a challenge.” Among other guests, Dr Aurobindo Behera, IAS (Retd), opined that, the energy need has become as basic as other elements of daily life. It needs to be affordable and sufficient.”
Mr Saroj Nayak, from IIT, Bhubaneswar while addressing the crowd also maintained that, it’s the right time when the state is at the verge of industrial growth, we must work towards bridging the energy gap. Energy for livelihood is so essential for the state, the poor communities which are deprived of free flow of energy are now in shambles, said, Shri PK Mohapatra, DGM, NABARD.
According to a survey by CEEW (Council on Energy Environment and Water) in 2015, “92% of villages in Odisha had electricity, but only 70% of households, and only 53% had electricity that met very basic quality standards.” Citing the above example, Ms Lucy Stevens, Policy Advisor, Practical Action UK, reaffirmed the objective of PPEO to bring out discussion on energy access and various aspects of reaching to the last mile at the Launching of PPEO 2017 here at Bhubaneswar. She briefed the gathering about the findings of the report which has focused Bangladesh, Kenya and Togo primarily; however the recommendations are very much applicable to Indian context.
While talking about the gender gap and the poor access of energy at the last mile, Dr Birupakshya Dixit, India Program Coordinator, Practical Action, talked about the challenges that “women face due to regular bio mass and non-availability of alternate options. He did mention that, the state needs to work on availing clean cook stoves as an alternate to bio mass and use of firewood. This may also contribute to the preservation of forests and help towards combating climate change in the state. Mr Sanjit Behera from practical Action presented the small innovations that the organisatio has initiated in the state imparting big changes.
The PPEO series draws on Practical Action’s 30 years of experience working with communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve their access to energy. This Poor people’s energy outlook, 2017, is the second volume of a three-part guide to, transforming the way the world must think about, and act on, energy service delivery if we are to eradicate energy poverty by 2030 in line with global goals. The 2016 edition focused on energy planning and policy making for universal access. This 2017 edition focuses on financing national energy access plans; and the 2018 edition will show how to deliver universal access in practice.
The whole programme was coordinated by Mr Arun Kumar Hial from Practical Action. People from development sector of the state, practitioners, academicians and students from IIT and OUAT participated at the launching ceremony.
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