Small-Business Entrepreneurs Lighting Up India’s Slums
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India's economy is growing faster than China's, yet a third of its population still live without electricity. But now a small company Pollinate Energy are selling solar-powered lights to India's slum-dwellers.
In the absence of power, every night the air in the sprawling shanty-towns of India's cities fill with the dense smoke of kerosene used for lighting and cooking. For the slum-dwellers, the smoke is a killer – equivalent to consuming up to two packs of cigarettes a day. "We basically decided that if we wanted to solve this huge problem it had to be a business solution. You just can't give away 400 million lights", says Kat Kimmorley, co-founder of Pollinate Energy. Pollinate's simple and safe solution comes in the form of a portable solar-powered light, in which the poorest can invest in a brighter future. Their demand is now giving work to Indians like Latha, a young mother who sells the lamps to slum dwellers: "My status has increased. My life has changed", she says.
ABC Australia – Ref 6460
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I was amazed by two statements by the Australian founder of Pollinate Energy – one solar light was equivalent to an Australian purchasing a plasma TV – and if the person purchased the solar light and paid it off over time, then they valued the light – but if they gave it away it was often neglected and not used. And this is an important lesson – it is all relative depending on the circumstance and no matter how poor you are you value what you earn. Nobody wants a handout – they just need things of real value – that really help improve their lives.
I do not think having to take your son to work is the worst thing that could happen to him. In fact, I know it’s not. That young man has a work ethic, which is invaluable.
I think he may mean that he feels bad since instead of sending the boy to school he has to have him helping him pick trash. I would feel bad about that too.
$30 seems pretty steep to me. Also, as a smoker I can say with confidence that there is no way standing around a kerosene lamp for a few hours a night is even close to as bad as smoking two packs of cigarettes a day as the woman in the video claims.
$10 / light should be plenty people don’t have $30 and got $3 to buy him food why would they pay $30 for life to put inside
…and smoke from the wood fires, but yours is also a choice. Your situation is in no way comparative to hers. The logistics that many of you are suggesting is not cost effective or make any sense, these people are temporary workers, that a huge investment for them, this allow them to carry it with them, the light represents 5 months of fuel for them, without the cost of getting their dwelling burned down by fire and charging for there phones. Pne step at a time.
$30 is kind of high for that light. Also for that big of a solar panel seems you could get a brighter light too. At least they are doing something though. It’s a shame foreigners seem to care more about these people than their own government.
By now it should be dropped in price. Also, it is cheaper to make a bigger panel to run multiple lights instead of multiple of these units. So where there are 6 families right next to each other it would be cheaper to tear apart some laptop batteries or even use an old car battery mppt charge controller like on aliexpress , 100w solar panel and leds
I’ve no doubt that the solar lights are quite useful in these slums…but I have a feeling that the company selling them is shady AF.
The only sad thing is its being Sold to the poor. And its bullshit that if you give it for free people don’t appreciate, if they don’t take care of it, they have no light, so they will.
Even poor people don’t want to feel like they’re being given handouts
Its funny how you say your setting out to help these people. But they are helping them self’s and helping us learn what it means to be greatful.
Why does this solar light cost so much. If they were to buy this in India it would cost then about ten bucks not 30
I’m sure Chinese made sun energy lights will be much cheaper … in fact I think Aussie import it from china and resell for substantial profit
True!
💡That is an awesome idea! I will keep India in prayer. They are my favorite culture but God loves all His children and will use people to help provide. I wish I could do so much. God willing one day I can visit. More than money, people need Jesus. “He is close to the broken-hearted saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalms 34:18 🙏🏼
Very good deed my friend keep it up…i bless u..
Interesting how the pollinate CEO mentions the environment first followed by these “poor people’s health” and quoting the 2 ciggarettes health issue. Her priorities are obvious with money going into her pocket.
the kerosene lanterns are not the real culprits that poor are able to afford, but the rich folk of this world that drive cars and the industries that are the polluters and real culprits, but do we see a documentary on that?
The product is outrageously expensive , a solar lamp in India costs no more than 1400 rs. Just google and find out
@YashaClone sounds like these colonialist type ozzies are trying to take advantage of the misery of these slum dwellers earning like 1 buck a day…
@lablask They did mention that at one point they tried to give out the product free of charge, what happened? It was not taken care of, not appreciated and or not used. People work hard for luxuries, and this is a luxury. They obviously have the option to buy a lamp, but chose this.
@lablask
They did say this thing doubles as a mobile phone charger though, and obviously one powerful enough to charge a smartphone capable of playing back videos with a decent volume as seen in the video, donno how much of a difference the battery and circuitry you’d need for that would amount to though.
I worked with extreme poverty cases when i was a social worker. Some people do not appreciate what is given to them, the only way they appreciate things, is if they work hard for them. Just like the rest of us. Example: there would be a 300$ stipend per family who met certain criteria, one family was given a free used refrigerator and a stove. A month later it was found that they sold said items. At least in my case, i wont be so generous with my hard earned money. But it is a free country, who ever feels it in their heart to buy these lamps and give them away to people in slums. Do it. I won’t.
thank you for this beautiful important story
There are still good people in this world😋
They say living in India is equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day and these people don’t even have choice in brand.
They didnt say that. Re watch
My personal opinion that it’s some new form of sells, they are looking for poor people to sell basic things, not sure that is more than it. Any help must be free, take the last savings from poor people is a sin, a shame video of that production company.
It’s a rather quite refreshing idea as an entrepreneur. They way they charge people only at prices relative to their salary for the purpose of the product lasting much longer is cunning. I actually have the needs for these kinds of ideas. Many thanks!
the girls and boys here are very clever and self sufficient. excellent invention. congratulations … I’m so impressed!
Heart breakin to see good human beings suffering only to provide n care for families n roof over there heads..we take so much for granted western countries.