Kamlesh Devi is a chikan (fine ethnic needle work) embroidery designer. 35 years old and a mother of 5 children, Kamlesh has studied till the eighth standard, a rare accomplishment for a woman in her village. But even so, she only earns half of her household’s total income and this dissatisfies her. Kamlesh feels that her potential as a fine needle work artist has always been limited due to the lack of basic lighting. 'It was frustrating to have to finish stitching in time for the goods to reach the market under the dim light of the kerosene lamps; it took the joy of the craft out of it,' she says.

With the advent of a solar charging station and solar lamps in her village, Kamlesh’s earnings parallel her rising spirit, with profits almost doubling on every sari she sells, due to the improvement in her quality of embroidery. For other women too, the lanterns have impacted more than just their work. 'The lanterns have let me go about my domestic chores much better and helped my children to study longer and without getting their eyes red and watery,' a woman shared.