30 Manipuri women to be trained as Solar engineers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06 2024: In what is proving to be an extraordinary communitybased women centred Project, 30 Manipuri women arrived at the Barefoot College campus, Tilonia, Rajasthan, to be trained as Solar engineers.

According to a release issued by Barefoot College, this is a first for Manipur and has been arranged by Barefoot College in parallel collaboration with Maolkeki Foundation and Nest Lamka.

Following three months of Practical hands on training, they will be technically competent to solar electrify their own villages.

Ranging from 20 to 65 years of age, with literacy levels ranging from illiterate, semi-literate to literate, they have no knowledge of solar, electronics or physics.

They come from remote villages where they live with erratic supply of electricity, if any.

In three months, they will become competent and confident solar engineers.

With financial assistance from HDFC, 500 20W fixed solar units will be installed along with solar lanterns fabricated by the women themselves.

The method of the training will not include any curriculum to listen to theories but, from day one, they will be learning by doing.

They will learn how to make a charge controller, how to fabricate a solar lantern, and how to install solar panels on the roofs without the assistance of any paper qualified engineer from outside.

These Solar Mamas will pursue the solar electrification of their villages and this will be 'certification' enough of their training and they will earn a living from providing solar services within their own communities.

One of the biggest impacts of this program is to boost the confidence of women from marginalised rural backgrounds and enable them to become pioneers in their communities.

Barefoot College is registered as the Social Work Research Centre (SWRC), established by the legendary social worker and Padma Shree awardee Bunker Roy in 1972.The lifestyle and work ethics of the institution still follow the Gandhian ideas of self-reliance using traditional knowledge and wisdom.

The organisation works towards equality of women, education, waste management, handloom and handicraft, water management, solar training.

Maolkeki Foundation will continue to support the women post their training in Tilonia as the ground partner for the implementation of the program in the villages where these women come from in Manipur.

Nest Lamka, Churachandpur partnered with Barefoot College to bring in twelve women from Churachandpur and Pherzwal districts.

They will also get trained to spearhead solarisation activities in their respective villages.

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