The villages of Refugee 1 and Refugee 2 in Gurez Valley in north Kashmir's Bandipora district experienced a momentous occasion on Tuesday as they saw electric light “for the first time since 1947”. This historic event was made possible by a solar grid project inaugurated by the Aseem Foundation, a Pune-based NGO.The entire communities of Refugee 1 and Refugee 2 were filled with joy and celebration, marking the first time these villages have been illuminated since their establishment.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Ali Teru, a local resident, expressed his amazement, saying, "My eyes have seen the light for the first time since I was born. I can't believe it’s really happening in our village. Not only me, but the entire village is grateful to the Aseem Foundation for this light."Parvaiz Ahmed, another local, saw the light as a symbol of hope. "This light is not just light but a ray of hope," he said.
The women of the village were particularly excited. They celebrated the arrival of light in their own special way. "Today, for the first time, we will eat under the light. We are speechless in expressing our gratitude to the Aseem Foundation," a group of women told KNO.
Dr Sarang Gosavi, President of the Aseem Foundation, said the new solar grids provide a reliable 2KW power supply to each village. The project also includes an innovative Power Limiter to ensure equal distribution and cost-effectiveness, promoting sustainable energy use, he added
The Aseem Foundation has previously implemented similar solar grid projects in other remote villages such as Gagar Hill, Jabri and Sumwali, Dr Gosavi said, adding that the organisation has been active in the region since 2002, focusing on the development and empowerment of border communities—(KNO)