Women solar entrepreneurs of Sunderbans

The project has been implemented by TERI in partnership with the RKM (Ramakrishna Mission) and the Jadavpur University. The main goal and objectives of the project were (1) to create viable enterprises on both, demand and supply side of solar energy business in the remote rural location, (2) to create an organizational set-up, viz. MFEDO (Market Facilitating and Enterprise Development Organization), and (3) to facilitate MFEDO in creating six women entrepreneurs of solar power. Under this project, a cluster organization, viz. Kalpataru - an affiliation of the Ramakrishna Mission in Kakdwip region in Sunderbans - was identified as MFEDO and six potential women candidates were identified as women entrepreneurs. Several capacity-building measures, such as orientation programme, training-cum-exposure visit, etc. were undertaken to sensitize the MFEDO and women entrepreneurs. A number of steps were undertaken to develop the market for women entrepreneurs. As an outcome of the project, a workshop with necessary tools and a lantern charging station were installed under the project. It is observed that the demand for lantern renting has been increasing day-by-day and as a result of this increasing demand, two more lantern-charging stations and one battery-charging station have been installed by RKM, subsequently. One of the success stories of the project lies in the fact that some self-driven initiatives, such as conduct of training, formation of SHGs (self-help groups), etc. have been taken by women entrepreneurs and MFEDO even beyond the project, which can link several other income-generating activities to the existing set-up.