Karnataka - Mysore   

The sun shines bright on these hawkers in Mysore

Sharath S. Srivatsa

Two entrepreneurs rent out solar lamps to hawkers, reducing expenditure on kerosene

SOLAR POWERED: Chaat vendors at Gandhi Square in Mysore using solar lamps at night.

MYSORE: Hawkers at Gandhi Square area here have seen business improving in recent months, and the reason behind it is a novel initiative by two entrepreneurs. The hawkers, who were earlier dependent on lanterns, have now been provided with solar-powered battery lamps for a nominal amount each day, and this apparently has improved their business.

The supply of solar lamps to the hawkers has reduced their dependence on lanterns, which used to consume plenty of kerosene, apart from emitting fumes that caused inconvenience to the customers. The solar lamps, which burn longer, have also allowed them to continue their business for an extra hour.

Financed by the State Bank of Mysore, the two entrepreneurs, Jayaram and Rajendra, invested on solar lamps, which are hired out to 50 hawkers at Gandhi Square for Rs. 10 a day. The batteries are recharged every day and the lamps are delivered to the hawkers by the evening. The initiative has not only succeeded in creating entrepreneurs, but also reduced the burden on the hawkers.

This new proposal has attracted a number of hawkers selling clothes, shoes, food and other products.

Many are eager to utilise the service offered by Mr. Jayaram and Mr. Rajendra. The solar lamps have especially helped those who sell eatables such as chaats.

The lamps have been supplied to the hawkers without any deposit, which has reduced the hawkers' expenditure on lighting.

The initiative has also helped hawkers dealing in clothes. Many hawkers have in the past lost their products in accidents when the kerosene-powered lanterns fell on the clothes, and resulted in either minor fire mishaps or staining of the garment.

The Chief Manager, Lead Bank, SBM, K.P. Pradyumna, told The Hindu that the initiative has resulted in savings of Rs. 15 every day for hawkers as they were earlier spending around Rs. 25 on kerosene on an average daily.

Some of the hawkers who had resorted to using inverters have now started showing interest in solar lamps.

Mr. Pradyumna said that while the initial investment for an inverter is around Rs. 11,000, the lighting is the same as that one gets from a solar lamp.

"The entrepreneurs have already repaid 20 per cent of the loan amount within three months. More hawkers have shown interest in the solar lighting system as the cost of lighting comes down by 50 per cent," added Mr. Pradyumna.

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