Solar Dreams Fade: Migrant Workers Left Powerless by Failing Panels
Neglected maintenance and lack of support dim the promise of solar energy for migrant workers in Uttar Pradesh.
In the brick kiln colonies of western Uttar Pradesh, solar panels once hailed as a beacon of self-reliance for migrant workers are now gathering dust, their promise dimmed by neglect and inadequate maintenance. Workers like Kamal Singh, a 32-year-old resident of an Aligarh colony, lament the decline of their solar systems, which once powered lights and fans but now barely function due to grime, misuse, and a lack of technical guidance.
Across regions like Hathras, Bulandshahr, and Aligarh, migrant workers invested hard-earned savings in small solar panels to escape unreliable electricity and costly diesel. Initially, these systems lit up homes and charged phones, offering respite from sweltering summers. However, many panels have succumbed to dust accumulation and improper cleaning, leaving workers like Kamal’s wife, Rashmi, frustrated. “We cleaned it with a cloth, but it’s still not working like before,” she said.
Neeraj Jain, director at Solar Square, explained that improper maintenance, such as harsh scrubbing or using household cleaning solutions, can damage panels’ anti-reflective coatings or cause micro-cracks, reducing their lifespan. Yet, this knowledge rarely reaches these communities, where workers rely on trial-and-error or misinformation. Local shopkeepers, often the only point of contact, admit to lacking expertise, advising rudimentary cleaning methods akin to household dusting.
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Air pollution exacerbates the issue, with particulate matter reducing solar panel efficiency by 12–41% in northern India, according to IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences. This decline renders systems nearly unusable for basic needs, pushing workers like Sangeeta from Bihar back to kerosene lamps. “We thought it would help, but it became more headache than help,” she said.
The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) acknowledges the gap. Managing Director Indrajit Singh highlighted efforts to train 30,000 “Surya Mitras” for installation and maintenance and engage women’s self-help groups in rural repairs. However, these initiatives have yet to reach the migrant belts of western UP effectively. Over 5,000 individuals have been trained, and 3,000 vendors registered, but the scale of the challenge remains vast.
India’s migrant population, estimated at over 600 million, relies heavily on affordable energy for empowerment, noted Nirmal Gorana of the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour. For workers who sacrificed essentials to afford solar panels, their failure represents more than a financial loss—it erodes trust in a system meant to uplift them. As Kamal Singh poignantly stated, When the panel stops working, it shatters our trust in the system.
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