BELGAUM: ‘Gone are those dark nights,’ say residents of Sagar Nagar slum of Belgaum, thanking the Aadhaar Village Programme (AVP) of Mahesh Foundation for providing them solar lights recently.
They used to light oil lamps in their huts, for which they had to spend a minimum of `10 per day. The slum has no light, roads or other basic amenities. The Foundation members initially started creating awareness on the importance of education among parents in the area about 18 months ago.
Founder Mahesh Jadhav told Express: “Recently the AVP established a nursery school, a community centre and a free health clinic here. Doctors are available at the clinic four days a week. They provide free treatment, including free medicines, to the slum dwellers.”
As many as 60 solar lights which have a back-up of 12 hours each, have been distributed. In the morning the family has to hand over the lights to the Integrated Energy Centre beside the community hall for charging. “We collect `5 for charging one light. The funds collected will be utilised for the welfare of the slum dwellers,” Jadhav said.
He added that under the AVP, the Foundation has spent `4.50 lakh till date on Sagar Nagar and the amount was received through donations.
The Foundation has promised the residents a positive change in their difficult lives, said Jadhav.