Uttarakhand : Women Empowerment Through Solar Energy

In a significant move to empower women and accelerate the adoption of clean energy in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday announced that women associated with the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme will now be called ‘Solar Sakhi’. The announcement was made during a special ‘Mukhya Sevak Samvad’ event held at the Chief Minister’s residence, Mukhya Sevak Sadan, where the CM interacted with developers and beneficiaries of the scheme.

The Chief Minister emphasized that this initiative is part of the state’s larger vision to promote renewable energy, sustainable livelihoods, and women-led entrepreneurship. He also informed that training programs for the maintenance of solar plants will be held in every district, and special camps will be organized at the development block level to increase awareness and participation in the scheme.

250 MW Milestone Achieved

The Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme has already achieved a capacity of 250 MW in Uttarakhand. “Solar energy is not only an unlimited source of power but also environmentally friendly. We are working towards expanding this capacity further,” said CM Dhami.

He highlighted that the scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving 500 GW of solar power by 2030 and making India carbon neutral by 2070. National-level programs such as the PM Suryaghar Yojana, PM-KUSUM, and the International Solar Alliance were also mentioned as part of this larger green mission.

Subsidies and Incentives Galore

• To encourage greater participation, the scheme offers attractive financial incentives:

• 20%–50% subsidy for setting up solar power plants ranging from 20 to 200 kilowatts

• Additional 5% subsidy for women, SC/ST communities, and Divyangjan

• 4% interest subsidy on loans

• 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) guaranteed by UPCL for the sale of electricity

• The application-to-allotment process has been made fully digital, accessible via an online portal designed for transparency and ease of use.

Voices from the Ground

During the interactive session, several developers shared their feedback:

• Shailendra Singh from Uttarkashi stated that the scheme is effectively utilizing barren land in mountainous areas.

• Vikas Mohan from Chamoli urged for increased promotion at the block level.

• Rupa Rani from Pauri called for more focused schemes to enhance women’s role in the solar sector.

• Ketan Bhardwaj from Champawat stressed the importance of training in solar plant maintenance.

State Government’s Broader Vision

CM Dhami reiterated the state’s efforts to curb migration from the hills, promote local economies, and create self-reliant communities. He cited initiatives like:

• ‘Ek Janpad, Do Utpadan’ – to boost district-level products and livelihoods

• ‘House of Himalayas’ – to brand and market local products nationwide

With a strong policy push, financial support, and a vision to empower communities, the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme continues to illuminate paths to self-reliance and sustainability in Uttarakhand.