Kutch: Of the total salt production in India, nearly 70% is produced in Gujarat. Despite this, the salt pan workers of Gujarat were leading the lifestyle of the 18th century. However, the life of salt-pan workers extracting salt in the small Rann of Kutch of has been meaningfully transformed with the region becoming pollution-free after adopting solar energy in a big way.

The salt-pan workers of the small Rann have started extracting salt using solar energy. Of the 2,200 salt-pan workers of the three ranns of Kharaghoda, Zinzuwada and Kuda, 1,600 have received solar systems while the remaining will receive them very shortly.

Previously, the salt-pant workers used diesel engines to produce brine from which salt is extracted. Everything changed two years ago when the department of industry and mines decided to introduce solar energy in the entire Rann to make it pollution-free. The benefit of this announcement has trickled down to the salt-pan workers, who everybody agrees are the weakest section of the society.

Those salt-pan workers who have an identity card issued by the Shramyogi Kalyan Board and are extracting salt on at least 10 acres as well as those salt-pan workers who are extracting salt as part of a cooperative society have become beneficiaries of this scheme.

In this scheme, the government deposits 80% of the expenses incurred on the solar system as a subsidy in the account of the beneficiary salt-pan worker if he/she applies for it within six months of purchasing the solar system. The remaining 20% of the cost of the solar system has to be borne by the beneficiary.

Currently, after every salt-pan worker in the small Rann of Kutch received the solar system, the region has become pollution-free. Solar energy is being used for salt extraction. Those who still don’t have it will receive it very shortly. The plan is to cover all salt-pan workers before the salt-extraction season of next year commences. DeshGujarat.