Nepal: Donation of Panasonic Solar Lanterns to Off-Grid Communities in Collaboration with UN-Habitat
On June 18, in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), we donated 400 Panasonic solar lanterns to off-grid communities in Chandragiri Municipality and Rajpur Rural Municipality in Nepal.
A donation ceremony was held the same day in Chandragiri, attended by local government officials, UN-Habitat, the Embassy of Japan in Nepal, members of the local community, and representatives from our Corporate Citizenship division.
The area selected for this donation is inhabited by many people who have been socially isolated due to the legacy of the caste system or who live in unstable housing conditions without land ownership.
Most households are not connected to the national power grid, and even those that are face unreliable electricity supply and economic barriers to consistent usage.
As a result, many rely on kerosene lamps, firewood, or candles for lighting, which poses several challenges: indoor air pollution from harmful smoke, financial strain from fuel costs, increased fire risk, and limited lighting that hinders educational opportunities.
This donation is expected to bring multiple benefits, including:
- Improved indoor air quality through reduced kerosene use
- Lower fuel costs and reduced economic burden
- Time and cost savings in fuel procurement
- Better access to lighting for children's home study
The Panasonic Group will continue to collaborate with diverse partners to deliver light to off-grid communities through solar lanterns and create opportunities for education, health, and increased income, with the goal of realizing a sustainable society without poverty.
