Baznas' Rumah Terang Programme Targets Thousands of Homes Without Electricity

Indramayu (ANTARA) — Indonesia’s National Zakat Agency (Baznas) is targeting its Rumah Terang (Bright House) programme to reach thousands of households across various regions of Indonesia that have so far lacked access to electricity.

“The target is actually thousands of households across Indonesia. And it can increase when we also exceed our zakat collection target,” said Baznas chairman Sodik Mujahid in Indramayu, West Java, on Thursday.

Sodik said the Rumah Terang programme was launched as an effort to improve the quality of life of pre-prosperous communities by providing safe and environmentally friendly electricity access, particularly for residents living in 3T regions (frontier, outermost and underdeveloped) that are not covered by the electricity grid.

Through the programme, beneficiaries receive renewable energy-based electrical installations in the form of solar panels, which can support daily activities, children’s education and family economic activities.

“The hope is that people become more knowledgeable, more diligent in studying — especially their sons and daughters — more spirited in their lives, more devoted in worship, and more productive in work, so that overall they become more prosperous,” he said.

The programme provides solar panel installations as the main energy source for lighting. Each household receives a lighting package containing five lamps, electrical installation and a battery for energy storage.

A single 1-watt LED lamp can last for approximately 20 years. Residents also do not need to spend money on maintenance; they only need to clean the solar panels of dust once every three months.

Baznas regards access to electricity as one of the basic needs that plays an important role in promoting community welfare and reducing development gaps between regions.

The programme is also expected to strengthen Baznas’s commitment to channelling zakat, infak and sedekah funds to deliver sustainable benefits to those in need.

Implementation of the Rumah Terang programme will be carried out in stages through coordination with provincial and district/municipal Baznas offices as well as various strategic partners, to ensure the assistance is well-targeted and reaches those most in need.

“So please keep us in your prayers and give us your support so that the target increases and the distribution can grow as well,” he said.