Energy for the Vulnerable: The Mining Communities of Ri Bhoi
Channel: SELCO Foundation
Date: 26/04/2018

For centuries, the Garo and Khasi tribes has been living in the Ri Bhoi region on the border of Meghalaya and Assam.  Exploited by stone mining corporations, working as labourers on the very lands that were snatched from them and eventually rendered unemployed with the ban of mining enforced by the government of Meghalaya. 

The region was totally deprived of light until early 2017, when SELCO Foundation collaborated with MOSONiE, Envo Business Solutions and Good Energies Foundation to introduce home lighting systems through an affordable EMI scheme.

The current livelihood practices of slash and burn and the making of coal are not enough to sustain the communities needs. At the same , the shrinking of natural resources is going to affect future generations

SELCO’s programs started here with home lighting but the focus is now shifting to focusing on their needs of livelihoods and sustainable income generating opportunities