Indian women are using solar energy to earn their livelihood; let’s take a glimpse into their lives.
Amid rising petroleum and coal costs, renewable energy, especially solar energy, is the fastest-growing power source. Undoubtedly, this green source will soon become the largest source of electricity and, ultimately, of energy. India has already started pushing itself to be the major producer of solar energy and has achieved big in very little time. It became the third-largest producer of solar power in the globe and not only that, the country’s objective is to establish itself as a global leader in solar energy.
Solar Power Used For Drying Fruits
A woman, who hails from Maharashtra’sDahanu has made solar power primary source of energy for her business. Latika Patil is the fourth-generation Chikoo horticulturist.
Earlier, the family used to sun-dry the fruits but wasn’t proving conducive because of weather conditions. Then the family started using solar dryers. Latika’s son Ninad explained that they can manage the constant temperature of these plates to 55 to 60 degrees, the temperature in which fruit’s nutrients can be conserved. Solar dryers are UV protected with high-grade polycarbonate sheets, which also protect fruits from dust.
As Latika pointed out, diving into solar drying can be incredibly lucrative. This technique not only reduces the time it takes to process fruits from three or four days down to only one, but it also prolongs their shelf life from a mere three months to an impressive nine.
Solar Power Used In Homestays
The idea of using solar power in the housing space has gained traction and homeowners, who converted their spaces into homestays, are favouring solar power over traditional grid dependence. People are also opting solar panels for their homes as these things can save them lakhs in the longer run.
Shalini, who is a Media professional, also has a beautiful homestay named ‘Raison D’etre’ is in Manali. She along with her husband supports and follows sustainable living, their homestay also showcase this theory.
Shalini made it clear that their entire household runs solely on solar energy, thanks to a reliable solar system. Nitin further expressed that irrespective of the days when sunshine is scarce, the solar system still fulfills its duty effectively. Additionally, during the sunny days, the system ensures to stock up the extra generated power in batteries for future use when necessary.
Solar Lights Energizing Street Shops
We always avoid buying vegetables in the dark as we cannot notice the signs of spoilage. However, this impacted the business of the street vendors. When Aakarsh Shamanur, a Bengaluru-based social entrepreneur noticed this, he decided to introduce the solar power in the life of these vendors.
His initiative, ‘Be Po-Lite’, aims to lend a helping hand to women who make a living as street vendors, by providing them 3W solar-powered portable lights. These lights not only enable them to keep their business going even after sundown, but also add value to their personal lives – they can take these lights home to prepare dinner or help their kids with their homework after dark.
Solar Powered Roti Maker
A report from the Department of New and Renewable Energy tells the inspiring tales of two women – Joshi and Rosy – who leveraged the power of solar energy to create prosperous home-based businesses, personifying their inventive drive.
After the unfortunate demise of her husband, Joshi ventured into the realm of catering, although she encountered difficulties in preparing rotis due to the flour milling process’s time-consuming nature. This stumbling block was overcome with the arrival of solar-operated machinery for flour milling and rolling, leading to a revitalization of her business.
Similarly, Rosy Louis Dabale, a devoted healthcare provider hailing from the Agsalkatta village in North Karnataka, also experienced a wave of prosperity as she efficiently ran a flour mill, all thanks to the power of solar energy.
Solar Power For Tailoring
Kaniz Fatima and her husband have engaged in the art of sewing for years, earning a modest Rs 150 per day. Yet, life took a fortunate turn for them in 2020 when a charitable organization assisted them in securing a bank loan of a whopping Rs 15,000. This monetary boost paved the way for the addition of solar panels on their homestead. Life has since improved remarkably. They saw their earnings grow two-fold while relishing an uninterrupted power supply. Their journey, much like a ray of sunshine, symbolizes hope and inspires many in their village, proving the positive power solar energy can have on households like theirs.