Women’s Entrepreneurship in Clean Energy program
SSP has been supporting rural women in building their leadership and gaining financial security by becoming part of the ‘Women’s Entrepreneurship in Clean Energy’ program. In partnership with SURE (Sakhi Unique Rural Enterprises), clean energy products like solar lights and energy-saving LED bulbs, as well as bio-pesticides and bio-insecticides to promote organic farming and maintain soil health, are made available to women at affordable rates. Anita devi, from Rasisa village in Bihar is one such Clean Energy Entrepreneur. Starting as a Urja Sakhi in 2019, she is now a successful Super Sakhi, overseeing 9 villages and 18 Sakhi’s who work under her guidance. After receiving many training’s from SSP in the importance of sustainability and clean energy, impacts of climate change and benefits of organic vegetable cultivation, Anita devi started spreading awareness on these issues in her community.
She put up stalls at Gram Panchayat meetings, SHG meetings and other village gatherings to sell clean energy and bio-farming products. She was also able to involve more women into this program, and developed her own leadership skills in the process.
As a result of regular mobilization activities that she did in her village and surrounding areas, she was able to learn about the issues that the village faced, and also gained respect in the eyes of the community. In the local elections of 2021, Anita devi was elected as a member of the Block Development Council. She claims that her work as a Sakhi, where worked in the community for their betterment, is the reason she won the election. Today, many of Anita’s community members have started practicing organic farming and using solar light, improving both their health and the environment.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
26th February, 2022