Written By Swapna Sarita Mohanty

20-year-old Kesari Kumari hails from Nichlagarh Village, Abu Road, Sirohi district in Rajasthan. Coming from a village with 250 households residing in difficult rocky terrain with no electricity, connectivity and water, Kesari always wanted to make a difference in the lives of his villagers and make life easy for them. When Bindi International reached her village with this project of Solar Mama training, her husband and father-in-law motivated her to take this up and be a harbinger of change.

After initial hesitation and resistance from her mother-in-law, Kesari made up her mind and came to Harmada campus, where she underwent five months of training and learned the intricacies of making solar bulbs, solar lanterns, solar bindi, solar diva and today she is ready to face the world with her new skill.

“When I came to know that I have to go to another place to learn this skill, I was a little worried but at the same time, I was excited that I would learn something new that is going to help my community and villagers to lead a better life. There were many questions in my mind like how the equipment would be, whether I would be able to learn it or not and at the same time it was a huge responsibility.”

Talking about the life-changing experience she said that the Kesari who had come stepped out of Nichlagarh is different from the one today, “I not only have this new skill of making solar equipment but at the same time enrich training has helped me grow as a more confident person who can not only electrify 50 households but at the same time start on business and start earning.” While ending the conversation, Kesari noted that she feels proud that she is going to be a changemaker in society.