Lighting up lives in Rural India

The Sri Sri Kaushal Vikas Kendra for Renewable Energy at the Art of Living International Center in Bengaluru has been training rural youth in solar energy since 2016. An affiliate of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, the free of cost training has helped youth find employment, increase their existing income manifold, and helped bring solar energy in remote areas of the country. Here are some inspiring stories of the training graduates from rural Maharashtra.

- Vanditaa Kothari

Finding inspiration in between an uninspiring job and difficulties at home

“In 2017, I was working in a small-scale sugar factory. With a low-paying, uninteresting job and a polytechnic diploma that slipped from my hands because of language issues, I was not at a particularly happy phase in my life. My humble farmer family was also not able to help my sister pursue higher education at that time. This is when I found out about solar skill training at the Bangalore Ashram.

Solar energy has captivated my interest since grade ten. I was fascinated by the prospect of bringing solar power to my village. There was no solar shop within the 40 km radius of my village. Post the training, I started my own solar enterprise under which I sell and service solar home systems, solar hybrid systems, solar water pumps, and solar on-grid systems. My income has increased. With that, the situation at home has improved too. Not to mention that I love my work now.”

- Nikhil Moha Munal, Tirathpuri, Jalna district

Choosing a new direction at 40