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ENERGY MANAGEMENT

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Lack of employment opportunities throughout the region is one of the main reasons for poverty. Employment programs are important elements for economically sustainable development. These programs should aim at enhancing the employment opportunities by utilizing the technology and thereby increasing the labour productivity. Training camps can be started to train these unemployed and under-employed persons in various non-farm activities. This will diversify the employment opportunities thereby increasing their income. Establishment of self-help groups can be another possibility. Self-employment of rural women can improve their financial situation.

Shifting to improved cook stoves and other energy sources can conserve about 40 % of fuel wood consumption. Low cost and compact designs should be developed in case of biogas plants, by which the technology can reach the poor people, who really deserve it. These alternatives once again decrease the efforts of rural women in fuel wood collection. Reducing the burden of fetching fuel, fodder and water can certainly help the women to engage in productive and income generating activities. Primary education comprising health, nutrition, family planning, water and sanitation is highly essential for women. Providing basic amenities such as basic education, primary health care, low cost water and sanitary facilities is one of the effective methods to improve the quality of life to a large extent. Investing on road networks can be one of the effective methods to improve the poor links between all parts of the catchment. Establishing some of the satellite places to main head quarters, where people can get the basic facilities easily can minimize the transportation problems to certain extent. Providing protection to the degraded forest patches can regenerate them to the original condition and emphasis on appropriate methods of fuelwood collection can drastically reduce the stress on forests. Further, afforestation programmes with preference to native species need to practiced to meet the energy requirements of the region.

Even though the Linganamakki Dam has been constructed with solely power generation purpose, several villages in the catchment (mention some) still lack the power supply. Electricity is the prime amenity required and facilities should be made to reach it to rural areas as well.