Page 7 - A Case Study on The Value of Engaging Women in the Energy Provisioning Process
P. 7
The Value of Engaging Women in the Energy Provisioning Process
Village Level No. of Villages SCS SMGs Total No. of Total No. of
Entrepreneurs with VLEs Established Established HHs Impacted Lives Impacted
Women 104 102 2 5,200 26,000
Men 43 9 19 1,400 7,000
Total 147 111 21 6,600 33,000
While all VLEs, men and women, drew benefits from managing the SCS or SMG systems, for the
104 women who were appointed and trained as VLEs, it was a significant economic and socially
progressive development. The average rental rate of USD 0.05 per lantern per day, earned the VLE
total collections of approximately USD 78 a month, which at this economic strata is a significant
amount not only in terms of value but also in terms of the regularity and the assurance of a steady
income every month. Through this appointment and with the newly generated income, every woman
VLE was able to fulfill some form of a basic need that was otherwise harder to achieve, including
household level requirements, medical expenses and nutritional requirements.
Some VLEs even demonstrated enhanced entrepreneurial qualities and higher levels of
confidence, making investments in alternative livelihoods like small tea shops or daily needs shops
that were collectively managed by the family and became an added source of income. Other women
VLEs were now able to invest in the acquisition of assets like a house or land or small equipment for
productive use.
CASE: Rasulan, a visually impaired girl who was nominated by her group to become a VLE
Like her four brothers, Rasulan was born blind. Her large
family of 7 with limited means, had no physical assets like
land, agricultural machinery or any form of employment
that could have ensured a steady and reliable flow of income.
To support their family, Rasulan’s parents worked as daily
wage laborers and were barely able to meet their basic needs
for survival. When Shramik Bharti discovered Rasulan and
her family’s case, they encouraged her to become a member
in one of their self-help groups (SHGs). They also tied up
with a local medical institution for the visually impaired
and worked with Rasulan and her four siblings to provide
them basic levels of education and specialized training to be
more independent and productive. As a result, Rasulan and
her brothers developed a sense of confidence and became
more interactive with the outside world.
Following this, Rasulan was nominated by her SHG group members to be appointed as VLE
under TERI’s clean energy programme, to run and operate a solar charging station. Becoming
a VLE enabled Rasulan to turn into an earning member in her family and despite her visual
impairment, she was able to bring in a regular source of income that allowed her family to fulfill
their basic requirements as well as set some money aside in savings.
These savings were then judiciously invested in setting up a small daily needs shop, the operation
of which was jointly handled by all members of the family, and the revenues from which provided
them with the chance to break out of their helpless and poor living conditions, to that of a more
dignified and respected one.
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Village Level No. of Villages SCS SMGs Total No. of Total No. of
Entrepreneurs with VLEs Established Established HHs Impacted Lives Impacted
Women 104 102 2 5,200 26,000
Men 43 9 19 1,400 7,000
Total 147 111 21 6,600 33,000
While all VLEs, men and women, drew benefits from managing the SCS or SMG systems, for the
104 women who were appointed and trained as VLEs, it was a significant economic and socially
progressive development. The average rental rate of USD 0.05 per lantern per day, earned the VLE
total collections of approximately USD 78 a month, which at this economic strata is a significant
amount not only in terms of value but also in terms of the regularity and the assurance of a steady
income every month. Through this appointment and with the newly generated income, every woman
VLE was able to fulfill some form of a basic need that was otherwise harder to achieve, including
household level requirements, medical expenses and nutritional requirements.
Some VLEs even demonstrated enhanced entrepreneurial qualities and higher levels of
confidence, making investments in alternative livelihoods like small tea shops or daily needs shops
that were collectively managed by the family and became an added source of income. Other women
VLEs were now able to invest in the acquisition of assets like a house or land or small equipment for
productive use.
CASE: Rasulan, a visually impaired girl who was nominated by her group to become a VLE
Like her four brothers, Rasulan was born blind. Her large
family of 7 with limited means, had no physical assets like
land, agricultural machinery or any form of employment
that could have ensured a steady and reliable flow of income.
To support their family, Rasulan’s parents worked as daily
wage laborers and were barely able to meet their basic needs
for survival. When Shramik Bharti discovered Rasulan and
her family’s case, they encouraged her to become a member
in one of their self-help groups (SHGs). They also tied up
with a local medical institution for the visually impaired
and worked with Rasulan and her four siblings to provide
them basic levels of education and specialized training to be
more independent and productive. As a result, Rasulan and
her brothers developed a sense of confidence and became
more interactive with the outside world.
Following this, Rasulan was nominated by her SHG group members to be appointed as VLE
under TERI’s clean energy programme, to run and operate a solar charging station. Becoming
a VLE enabled Rasulan to turn into an earning member in her family and despite her visual
impairment, she was able to bring in a regular source of income that allowed her family to fulfill
their basic requirements as well as set some money aside in savings.
These savings were then judiciously invested in setting up a small daily needs shop, the operation
of which was jointly handled by all members of the family, and the revenues from which provided
them with the chance to break out of their helpless and poor living conditions, to that of a more
dignified and respected one.
7
