Solar energy can do wonders in this changing world of global warming. Proving the same thought right,  Dungarpur collector Surendra Singh Solanki innovated solar lamp projects which was honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Solanki was conferred the award in the category of best innovation for implementation of solar lamp project in Dungarpur district on the occassion of 11th Civil Services Day. Showcasing the impact of project that has turned poor or lesser educated tribal women into green entrepreneurs, a documentary was screened during the award function.

"Before this project, whenever it was about women empowerment or livelihood training for the fairer sex, it had been confined to Papad or Pickle making or distributing sewing machines. But first time, we thought of creating 'barefoot engineers' and tried to connect women with technology,” Solanki informed. 

This project has made it possible for the women from backward blocks of Rajasthan to earn their livelihoods by becoming solar entrepreneurs. 

Last year, the district administration had invited IIT Bombay to start its program of solar study lamp distribution (Project Million SoUL) in remote areas by forming partnership with cluster level federations (CLFs) of Rajeevika (Rajasthan Grameen Ajeevika Vikas Parishad). The lamps which were created by these ladies were subsidised to make them affordable.

Around 150 women from self help groups were trained and mentored to locally assemble and sell the lamps. Later a team of 500 women joined group and made a record income of 75 lakh rupees by marketing 60 thousand solar lamps in few months. Not limiting themselves just to making and selling the ladies were also trained to provide repair and maintenance to the lamps by setting up solar shops. These lamps benefitted at a larger scale to masses as it was sold in a very competitive price to the needy ones.