When they saw the panels they came down from their hideouts in the surrounding hills and started asking questions. The power of this movement is considerable in the remote areas. They will also dispense rough justice to thieves, wife beaters or habitual drunks. It is important to get them onside. After talking to the locals and Samir Newa the Maoists gave the project their backing.
Children can study.
In the evenings women can do some of the detailed tasks that used to have to be done during the day - sorting through rice and grain to pick out the stones, sewing and spinning thread. A women's group now regularly meets under a solar light in the health post compound learning to write Nepali. According to Gopal Pandey, the health post worker, not only does he treat fewer cases of bronchitis and pneumonia now but the lighting has also discouraged the banned but still endemic drinking of Raksi - because now the drinkers must find ever darker corners in which to indulge. If the price of the panels were cheaper then maybe even that would disappear from his waiting room. But until there are many more Bongadovans there will be insufficient numbers participating in the manufacturing process to drag the unit panel price down to something easily repayable.