An investigation on impact of rural electrification on improving standards of living in rural areas of Trincomalee District

Abstract

This study investigates Rural Electrification (RE). RE programs were implemented in Trincomalee District played a crucial role in the beneficiaries to uplift their standards of living. It may take a lengthier time to receive benefits back from specific RE programs even though this study addressed recent RE programs till 2012 such dramatic changes _ incurred Standards. of Living of RE beneficiaries. ‘Sri Lanka was going in a track towards fast growth from an economic point of view. This situation stimulated foreign investments in RE-based programs in remote areas. RE facilitated rural people to consume electrification at the least cost. RE supported to reduce illegal electricity consumption and switching of alternative expensive energy sources because RE helps to fill the gap on demand created by electricity consumers. RE played an anchor role in providing job opportunities, children education, household uses, health-based uses, and street lighting. This study reveals there was a significant impact of RE on standards of living. RE measured by Household, Industrial and Commercial factors. Standards of Living -~+ measured by Income-generation, Household uses, Contribution -to-Education; Health - based uses and Employment Opportunity. Especially, respondents selected from RE beneficiaries perceived that RE significantly impacts income generation efforts and household uses in the Trincomalee context. This was implying a positive perception over the recent implementation of RE. Methodology indicates the correlation of the independent variable with the dependent variable, correlations among the independent variable are taken into account. The R Square which is explained the variance in Rural Electrifications has been significantly explained by the independent variable. Finally, Stands of Living consists of a variety of determinants but, this study selected - factor that matching with the RE situation in the Trincomalee context. at the same time at majority of respondents pay less attention to RE efforts providing job opportunities so, a future implementation may take this regard. This study came to a conclusion that the recent implementation of RE in Trincomalee perceived positively impact on Standards of Living of its’ beneficiaries significantly.