'Solar Mamas' from state graduate from Barefoot College
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 30 2024: MaolKeki Foundation has informed that 18 women participants it had selected from Noney, Tamenglong, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul districts have completed three months training and are now fully qualified as 'Solar Mamas'.

According to a press release by the MaolKeki Foundation, the women were part of a contingent of 30 participants from the state with the 12 other participants coming from Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.

The training in engineering and fabricating solar equipment and devices was organised by Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan, and funded by HDFC Bank as part of its CSR programme, it added.

The Foundation informed that during the graduation ceremony organised on Saturday in the college premises, Barefoot College UK CEO Heather Malcolm, who attended as the chief guest, congratulated the 30 women calling them 'bringers of light' and told them, "your villages will be entering into a new and 'energetic' life!" .

Padma Shree awardee and Barefoot College founder Bunker Roy said that he was glad the women from Manipur came all the way to Rajasthan to learn a technology that will be useful when they get back from Rajasthan.

"Barefoot College is blessed you came here for three months, and I trust you picked up a lot of ideas to take back home.

Once you have installed the solar units, I will try and come to see you," he also stated.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by MaolKeki Foundation trustee Dr Shachi Gurumayum, who congratulated the 'Solar Mamas' on the successful completion of their training and urged them to Start implementation as soon as they returned home to light up their respective villages and bring hope and prosperity to Manipur.

The day included demonstrations from the 'Solar Mamas' of what they had learned in the three months and cultural performances by them highlighting the beautiful ethnic diversity of Manipur, the release continued.

The Foundation further informed that to enable this implementation, a truckload of solar equipment is now on its way to Manipur for further distribution to the respective 'Solar Mamas' .

They will then use their newly acquired skills to establish solar enterprises in their communities to bring rural electrification and solar lighting.

"We are thankful to Barefoot College for providing this opportunity, to the women from Manipur and HDFC Bank for their generous funding of this first-of-a-kind programme in North-East India.

We eagerly look forward to a bright future for our 'Solar Mamas' and Manipur, the Foundation said.

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