IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: Reaffirming its goal of allocating 100,000 solar lanterns to off-grid communities globally, Panasonic in its Solar Lantern Press Meet held in the city, announced the next step towards improving lives of the people residing in areas which have no access to electricity.
The company has already allocated 9,000 solar lanterns in India in the last two years and as a subsequent progress, it will contribute 5,006 solar lanterns this year.
To proliferate the effect of this initiative, Panasonic has collaborated with seven leading NGO’s (non-profit organizations) including the World Health Partners, Plan International India, World Vision India, Oxfam India, Japan Lutheran Evangelical Association, Bindaas Unlimited Trust, and SARD in the areas of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Haryana.
Some of the activities planned through this initiative involve allowing medical care service at night to promote healthcare campaign for poor and deprived families, and conduct eco-education classes in the evening for children without alternate sources of light. With an aim to improve the quality of life of the residents in these regions, this project will support economic independence of BPL (Below Poverty Line) people living in off-grid areas and provide telemedicine and healthcare services to people living in rural areas.
Commenting on this initiative, Shri. Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Govt. of India said, “The new government envisions to harness solar power to enable every home to run at least one light bulb by 2019 as close to 400 million people in India lack access to electricity.
The ‘100 Thousand solar lantern project’ by Panasonic is a step toward resolving one of the existing social concerns. I would like to commend and congratulate Panasonic for promoting a corporate citizenship project and for associating with the country’s vision to bring light to the households in the off-grid locations.”
Shri. Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Panasonic India and South Asia said, “India has an extreme appetite for energy needs and effective distribution of solar power is extremely crucial for India’s power sector and economic development. Owing to this, Panasonic realizes the need of corporates to partner with the government to realize the vision of providing light to every household in the country”
“The 100 Thousand solar lantern project is one such initiative. These efforts mark the beginning of what we hope to be a long-term commitment to create better living conditions for the under-privileged communities by introducing solar LED lanterns and solar home systems that are manufactured in India. This is in line with our management philosophy of creating ‘A Better Life, A Better World’ for our consumers”
Commenting on this initiative, Ms. Fukuda, General Manager-CSR, Panasonic Corporation said, “We at Panasonic have been a part of this successful initiative for the last 2 years and have contributed more than 24,000 units of solar lantern across 9 countries and 27 recipient organizations.
This year, Panasonic will donate 16 thousand Solar Lanterns in India, Indonesia, Philippines and other Asian and African countries to help overcome certain challenges in the lives of people residing in the off-grid locations. Through this initiative, we aim to improve the quality of life and support the education and health sectors in the regions. The phase III of this initiative reiterates our long-term commitment of building a better life for communities around the world by providing technology based solutions.”
Panasonic has already enriched the lives of a considerable population in the world by allocating 10 thousand Compact Solar Lights in Fiscal Year 2012 in India, Myanmar and Kenya and 14 thousand Solar Lanterns in Fiscal Year 2013 to 9 countries in Asia and Africa including India to non-profit, non-governmental and humanitarian organizations working to solve social challenges. By 2018, the year of company’s 100th anniversary Panasonic aims to contribute 100,000 solar LED lanterns.
