Abstract
Sagar Island, also known as 'Gangasagar' in commoners' parlance is one of the populous islands that falls under the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve in the State of West Bengal. The Island articulates the faith and sentiments of teeming billions of this country in a transcendental and sublime manner since time immemorial. Despite the age-old religious and cultural connotations, the island's socio-economic growth was contained to a certain extent due to non-availability of grid electricity. Islanders had to depend primarily on energy supplied in an intermittent manner through solar photovoltaic cells, diesel generator sets, kerosene-fed implements used for illumination or otherwise along with fuelwood. Situation in Sagar Island had started changing dramatically from 2012 onwards with the rolling out of 100 per cent household electrification programme under 'Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project.' Resonance of grid electricity is palpable cutting across all geographic, social and economic heterogeneities in Sagar Island. The execution of the entire component did have a kaleidoscopic impact through spurting of multiple socio-economic activities in Sagar Island. The present paper deliberates on the impact of grid electricity vis-a-vis the improvements that have taken place with respect to healthcare services and facilities in Sagar Island. The study shows that the initiatives, that are propelled either due to distribution of grid electricity through government-owned healthcare centres or through private healthcare enterprises, are quite impressive. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of 17 units, instrumental in providing healthcare services and facilities of varied nature in Sagar Island, have proved beyond doubt that grid electricity is not only a demand-driven project initiative whence it was conceived but in real terms is a game-changer that accelerates the pace of sustainable development.
Highlights
Sagar Island is located in the GangesBrahmaputra delta and lies at the mouth of the river Hooghly
Distribution Transformers installed – 595 À To study the impact of grid electricity units in powering the improvement of the healthcare services and facilities in Sagar Island; Ú To know the quality of services provided by the service provider, e.g., West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (WBSEDCL) and the reasons for power cut
One primary health centre located in Muriganga I Gram Panchayat is yet to be connected to the grid electricity but the same has already applied for connection
Summary
Sagar Island is located in the GangesBrahmaputra delta and lies at the mouth of the river Hooghly. Sagar block that comes under the administrative jurisdiction of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal consists of Sagar Island and Ghoramara Island. Sagar Island falls under Sundarban Biosphere Reserve and is totally cut-off from the mainland by Muriganga river. The total geographical area of the Sagar block is 282.11 sq. Apart from the religio-cultural significance of the Island, it is considered to be one of the populous and large islands of the Indian nation State. According to 2011 Census of Government of India, the population of Sagar block was 2,12,037 and the number of households was 43,716
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