Portable solar lamps manufactured by women's self help groups of Ranchi made their debut on Amazon on Monday, the global e-commerce platform expected to boost sales of a locally made product that is not only eco-friendly but also competitively priced.

The Ranchi district administration launched the solar lamp project in 2018 to provide cheap and eco-friendly lighting solutions in rural parts of the state. Titled Ranchi ki Roshni, the district administration roped in local self-help groups who were trained — right from designing to making these lamps. Currently, 15 women function out of the Ormanjhi block office to manufacture the lamps.

Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said Amazon would hopefully add to sales. “We are immensely happy and proud that the district administration’s initiative with women's self help groups is now getting recognised,” he said.

Another official said that as an introductory offer, customers buying the lamps through Amazon would get a 10 per cent discount on the marked price of Rs 499.

“The prices are dynamic as the project is still in a nascent stage. Before the Covid pandemic, we were selling it at Rs 160 per piece. But, post- lockdown, prices of raw materials, mainly plastic and metals, two key elements in our product, shot up exponentially. Hence, we had to priced it close to Rs 500 on Amazon,” said an official.

Ranchi ki Roshni was originally conceptualised by My Shelter Foundation and a group of IITians while they were pursuing internship with the district administration in 2018 as a cost-effective source of lighting for the poor. Twitter/ @DC_Ranchi

The sale proceeds would be ploughed back to the project to meet recurring expenses like salaries. etc.

Earlier this year, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) signed an MoU with the district administration for supplying about 40,000 lamps in a phased manner. So far, 10,000 lamps have bbeen passed on to NDRF. “Although, we are supplying the lights free of cost to NDRF, funding for making them is being given by Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) from the PSU's CSR funds,” said an official.

Ranchi ki Roshni was originally conceptualised by My Shelter Foundation and a group of IITians while they were pursuing internship with the district administration in 2018 as a cost-effective source of lighting for the poor. They developed LED bulbs, micro-solar panels and a battery to provide low- cost solutions.

Later, the district administration adopted the model and women's goups were trained. The idea was also applauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Ranchi at the time.