Baznas' Rumah Terang Programme Targets Thousands of Homes Without Electricity

The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) is targeting its Rumah Terang Baznas programme to reach thousands of households in various regions of Indonesia that still lack access to electricity. “The target is actually thousands across Indonesia. And it can increase when we also achieve our zakat collection target above the goal,” said Baznas Chairman Sodik Mujahid in Indramayu, West Java, on Thursday. Sodik explained that the Rumah Terang Baznas programme is designed to improve the quality of life for underprivileged communities by providing safe and environmentally friendly electricity access, especially for residents living in frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) areas not yet reached by the power grid. Through the programme, beneficiaries receive renewable energy-based electrical installations in the form of solar panels, supporting daily activities, children’s education, and family economic activities. “The hope is that the community becomes smarter, more diligent in studying, especially their children, more enthusiastic about life, increases their worship, and increases their work, so that overall they become more prosperous,” he said. The programme provides solar panel installations as the main energy source to power lights. Each household receives a lighting package containing five lamps, electrical wiring, and a battery for energy storage. A 1-watt LED lamp can last up to approximately 20 years. The community also does not need to spend money on maintenance, only needing to clean the solar panels of dust once every three months. Baznas considers access to electricity a basic need that plays a crucial role in promoting community welfare and reducing inter-regional development disparities. The programme is also expected to strengthen Baznas’ commitment to utilising zakat, infak, and sedekah funds to deliver sustainable benefits to communities in need. The implementation of the Rumah Terang Baznas programme will be carried out in stages through coordination with provincial and district/city Baznas offices as well as various strategic partners to ensure aid distribution is well-targeted and reaches those most in need. “So we ask for prayers and support so that the target increases and thus the distribution also increases,” he said.