Vrindawati and Birmuni Solar Engineers of Jharkhand
Two Women Solar engineers, Vrindawati and Birmuni have electrified 220 households with 100W Solar home lighting systems for families which are located across 14 villages of the Raidih block. A rural electronic workshop has been established in Karanjkur as a centre for repair, demonstration of solar products, learning and sales. In Jharkhand, around 75% of households in the tribal hinterland remain at the bottom of the electricity-access ladder and 66% of households still depend on kerosene for lighting. The lack of access to quality energy is due to the geographical challenges and infrastructural bottlenecks. 26% of the state population resides in rural areas and 3/4 of their lighting needs are met by kerosene. They depend on costly fossil fuels to run unreliable generators that don’t adequately supply light and power.
The scope of the electrification covered through this initiative genuinely solves the problem of access to energy for the last mile community. Using a decentralised approach to solar electrify villages is the most viable solution in providing access to energy for the benefitting community. Thus far, the Solar Engineers have sold over 190 Bindi Diva torches, home lighting systems and lanterns in their community. Each solar mama earns an average of Rs 4800/- per month as a secondary livelihood through our Solar Community and Women prosper model.
REMOTE VILLAGES RECEIVE SOLAR ELECTRICITY
The District Administration Gumla and EMPBindi International Association have leveraged a local organisation with a block level SHG federation; Mahila Vikas Mandal, Raidih in Gumla district, Jharkhand. Vrindawati Devi and Birmuni Devi were identified from the tribal non-electrified hamlets from Raidih block of Sursang panchayat for the Solar engineer programme. Along with Solar technical training, women were also trained on accessing digital tools and Enriche. These Solar Engineers took a journey to Rajasthan, India to learn these life-changing skills. Illiterate and semi-illiterate, they enroll in the 6-month training period. The emphasis is on making trainees feel at home and enabling them to familiarize themselves with different terms, tools, components and equipment used in solar technology.
It requires undeniable courage and endurance for women to leave their village for the first time to travel a great distance where language, food and culture are different. The first month is a period of many adjustments, but with time, care and support from their master trainers, they learn to adapt. Practical demonstrations or ‘hands-on’ experience and regular repetition help the trainees remember terms, tools, equipment and components that most learn for the first time. With each passing day, their confidence and ‘technical dexterity’ increases. The presence of trainees from different nationalities creates a positive environment of cultural diversity. The need for expression gives birth to a unique combination of gestures, signs and cutting across all language barriers. At the end of 6 months, the trainees graduate as Solar Engineers.
As per the prior agreements with their villages, the Solar Engineers go back to their respective villages and electrify the households with solar lighting units. Their training enables them to install panels independently. They assume the responsibility of repair and maintenance for a minimum of 5 years.
This clean, renewable affordable source of light has transformed the lives of many villagers, who reduce their risk of lung infection from black smoke and can see late into the evening for a higher quality of life.
Solar engineers play a key role in sustaining and replicating solar technology in rural communities. They help change the perception of a women’s societal role and cultural gender barriers.
WOMEN REDUCING GENDER BARRIERS
Returning home as educated women is an incredible feat in Jharkhand. Many females of the state receive little or no formal education as boys are often selected first for studies. Household savings are often limited, causing families to have to choose which children will be allowed to go to school. Regardless of their literacy rate, Bindi Solar initiative enables any rural woman to enroll. While most women are forced into early marriage, child bearing and farm work, educated women have the potential to shift the traditional mindset in villages and pave the way for other young women.
Vrindawati and Birmuni returned home as local heroines and have gained the respect of the men and women in their communities. Now the villagers come to them seeking knowledge and insight. The Bindi approach purposely targets rural women as a means to establish increased gender equity in remote and marginalised communities.
Empowering women, who are largely under-utilised and given far fewer opportunities in life, helps to uplift entire communities. Entrusting them with sustainably driven skills and tools amplifies the benefits of their vocational training for everyone.