Key Takeaways

• Chhattisgarh’s ‘Dweepti Yojana’ aims to empower rural women as leaders in solar energy.
• The initiative focuses on training women to manage and maintain solar systems, enhancing local energy self-reliance.
• Financial sustainability is ensured through innovative payment models and reserving maintenance contracts for women-led groups.

Transforming Rural Women’s Roles in Clean Energy

Chhattisgarh is set to implement the ‘Dweepti Yojana’, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower rural women by transforming them into solar energy leaders, known as ‘Solar Didis’. This campaign is positioned as one of the state’s most ambitious efforts to bolster women-led development, aiming to improve their roles in energy management rather than limiting them to consumer status.

Historically, women in Chhattisgarh have faced numerous challenges, including reliance on firewood for cooking and enduring long power cuts that disrupt vital aspects of rural life, such as irrigation and milling. The state government seeks to change this narrative by equipping women with the skills to manage solar-powered infrastructure, including cold storages and irrigation systems.

Set to run from 2026 to 2031, the ‘Dweepti Yojana’ will be facilitated by the panchayat and rural development department in conjunction with the extensive self-help group (SHG) network. The program aims to blend renewable energy initiatives with livelihood opportunities in areas where employment prospects for women are limited.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized the importance of this scheme, stating the goal is to empower women as “owners and managers” in the energy sector. The program is aligned with the national vision for green energy and aims for every village to achieve energy self-sufficiency led by the ‘Solar Didis’.

Women selected for the initiative will receive training in installing, operating, and maintaining solar systems. This approach addresses a critical issue in rural settings: the frequent technical failures that leave essential public infrastructures inoperative for extended periods. By empowering women as technical experts and managers, the program hopes to create a more resilient energy framework in these communities.

In addition, the initiative seeks to enhance the capabilities of existing SHGs, transforming them into energy entrepreneurs. The ‘Cluster Level Federations’ (CLFs), which currently act as community organizations led by women, will evolve into “women energy cooperative societies” tasked with overseeing and servicing energy assets in their villages.

To ensure the financial viability of the model, the government plans to implement “pay-per-use” and “pay-as-you-go” systems. This means villagers can pay only for the energy they consume, removing the burden of large initial investments. Moreover, 25 percent of panchayat maintenance contracts will be allocated to these women-led energy groups, creating a reliable income stream and encouraging community ownership.

Overall, the ‘Dweepti Yojana’ represents a significant shift towards sustainability and empowerment for rural women in Chhattisgarh, marking a pivotal step toward a green energy revolution in the region.

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