PHOTO: FILE
He expressed these views while speaking at a ceremony organised by the USAID in collaboration with Gender and Empowerment Organisation (Geo) at Ghoth Nawab Khan, Jaffarabad, in which solar-plated fans and batteries were distributed among 19 families in four villages of Jaffarabad.
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Deputy Commissioner Dera Allah Yar Khan Yaqoob Bangalzai, media, representatives of civil society, local landlords and a number of community members were also present.
The DC said, “USAID is taking potential steps for the betterment of the people of Balochistan.”
He said that providing solar batteries in far-flung areas of Balochistan was definitely “a great move”.
He also applauded the role of local social welfare organisation Geo and said that they were working in collaboration with USAID in those areas of the province where no sign of electricity could be perceived.
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He said, “This wave of light in the poor people is definitely not less than any jihad. This altruistic act has opened the eyes of villagers to a new world and has changed their lives.”
Tribal elders and community heads said that villages had been in darkness for the last 20 years, adding that children were not able to study at night, women confronted problems doing domestic work and people were unaware of the latest trends.
Geo representatives Abdul Salam Magsi and Madiha Noor said, “Indeed merit is a challenging task. Our team worked hard to choose four villages of Jaffarabad and two villages of Sohbatpur that were completely deprived of electricity.”
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They thanked USAID for trusting their capability and handing over the solar system project to their organisation.
Geo selected those villages where electricity pylons were situated two to three kilometres away out of the reach of poor villagers.
On merit, Geo selected 19 families and distributed modern solar-plated fans and batteries among them.
The Geo team would train 12 competent youths in these villages who could overcome problems faced by villagers while operating the solar batteries.
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