Daijiworld Media Network – Raichur (MS)

Raichur, Dec 24: Raichur has earned the distinction of becoming the first district in India to utilize solar energy for powering health centres. The district’s 51 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 191 sub-centres now operate using 1,000 kWp of solar energy.

This shift to solar power has significantly reduced electricity costs by over 70%, saving the state exchequer Rs 86.4 lac annually. The project exemplifies the dual benefits of clean energy—economic savings and environmental sustainability.

Initiated in 2021 through a collaboration between non-profit organization SELCO and the state health department, the project later expanded to include 5,000 PHCs across Karnataka. This initiative currently benefits more than three crore rural residents in the state.

Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao highlighted the project’s success, stating, “Raichur was the starting point for this initiative due to its favourable conditions like abundant sunlight. It has since expanded to 1,152 PHCs, with an additional 5,000 centres recently included. Over the next two years, the project aims to cover the entire state, saving an estimated Rs 60 lac every month, translating to Rs 6–7 crore annually.”

Raichur has also established a special call centre to manage solar-powered facilities, including six community health centres, 51 PHCs, 191 sub-centres, four sub-divisional hospitals, and five city PHCs. A dashboard system ensures smooth operation and effective supervision.

PHC officer Sara Bano of Mitti Milkapura shared, “In the past, many women avoided delivering babies at PHCs due to unreliable electricity. Now, perceptions have completely changed.”