Light for Education is an innovative model by which free solar lighting is provided to rural homes of school going children

 
More than 1/3 population of India lives in un-electrified or under-electrified areas and the children in these rural areas study using Kerosene Lamps. Kerosene Fumes are harmful and the lighting is inadequate. SELCO a social enterprise came up with the “Light for Education” model to address this problem.

 
A Solar Panel and Charging Station installed in rural schools and the Lamp and battery pack are given to students. The school becomes the charging station for the lights – the students bring lamps to school for charging in morning and take them back when they return in the afternoon. They then use the charged lamp for study at home.

 
This helps provide good, clean light at home for better study while eliminating problems caused by kerosene lamps or candles. The light becomes an incentive for the child to come to school each day. Parents realise the value in school, thus increases the bonding between the community and the school. Schools have better control with the central charging station is in their premises.

 
The first recipient of the Light for Education programme is the Viveka Tribal School located in H.D.Kote Taluk, Karnataka near Bandipur National Forest. Started by Dr. R. Balasubramaniam founder of “Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement” in 1988, this semi-residential school for the Tribals has about 400 mostly first generation school goers. The school provides free education, clothes, books, uniforms and food for tribal students. 80 study lamps along with charging systems were provided to the school which were given to 8th/9th/10th Standard students.

 
The Technology Alumni Association, Bangalore (IIT Kharagpur Alumni Association, Bangalore) has teamed up with SELCO, a social enterprise started by IIT Kharagpur alumnus Dr Harish Hande to support Light for Education. Menda Foundation is headed by Shri. Arjun Menda (M. Tech from IIT, Kharagpur) who is also Chairman of RMZ Corp has offered matching grant for all donations received towards Light For Education.

 
The program was kicked off on 21st November 2010 through a fund raising Inter IIT Alumni Music Competition at Ambedkar Bhavan, Bangalore. The Light for Education project is targeting 1000 lamps for the year 2011. Support the Light for Education programme by contributing o it.