Powering Livelihoods: Transforming Rural India with Cleantech Innovations

The Powering Livelihoods programme, led by CEEW and Villgro, has invested INR 1 crore to scale new cleantech innovations in the DRE sector. This initiative supports enterprises to boost rural livelihoods through solar appliances and other technologies. The programme has already impacted thousands of livelihoods and aims for even greater reach.

In a bid to revolutionize rural India, the Powering Livelihoods programme has committed approximately INR 1 crore to scale up cleantech innovations in the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector. This significant funding aims to bolster the efforts of six new DRE innovators, alongside 11 existing ones, to enhance rural livelihoods through sustainable technologies.

The programme is spearheaded by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Villgro, India's largest social enterprise incubator. Cleantech solutions, such as solar refrigerators and food processing machines, are already transforming rural economies by increasing productivity and promoting local production in sectors like fisheries and grain processing.

Experts highlight the initiative's potential to create 40,000 livelihoods by 2026 and reduce CO2 emissions significantly. 'Powering Livelihoods' also engages with policymakers to foster an enabling environment for DRE technologies. The programme is backed by the IKEA Foundation, Good Energies by Porticus, and the DOEN Foundation.

(With inputs from agencies.)