Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan is being hailed as a hero in the villages of Orissa after he helped light up thousands of houses across seven villages by funding a solar electricity project.
Shahrukh funded rural electrification project in Ahriajpur, Banhipal, Okilapala, Palachua, Rangani, Denlasahi and Gupti villages, which uses solar energy that was implemented by The Energy and Research Institute (TERI).
For the villagers in Okilapala, Shahrukh has come as messiah as his funding helped these people to see the light of the day after 61 years of the country's independence.
"All the 270 families in our village cannot forget Shahrukh Khan's help. The contribution of this great man is incomparable. He has helped us very much. We were living in bad condition, without any light, he provided us with solar lights and villagers have to pay just Rs. 3 to get the light. We are getting the light at very cheap rates," said, Tulsi Das, a villager.
The villagers have also been provided with solar lamps for which they have to pay a fee of Rs. 3, while a recharging station has been set up in the village and solar panels have also been installed to enable the villagers to charge their lamps everyday.
{{/usCountry}}The villagers have also been provided with solar lamps for which they have to pay a fee of Rs. 3, while a recharging station has been set up in the village and solar panels have also been installed to enable the villagers to charge their lamps everyday.
{{/usCountry}}"Now we have no problems. Though we have to pay Rs 3 for night, we are getting many benefits. Our children can study now, women can work properly. Earlier, there used to be many problems while using kerosene lamps, but now we avail many benefits. We have got lights from Shahrukh Khan. We had no idea about him, but now we have come to know about him," said Kalindi Nayak, another villager.