- ‘Dweepti Yojana’ will be run under the leadership of women
The Chhattisgarh government has taken a landmark decision to empower rural women in the energy sector and integrate them into the economic mainstream. The state government has formally approved the ambitious “Dweepti Yojana” for the period 2026 to 2031. This scheme will write a new story of self-reliance for Chhattisgarh, including women’s self-reliance.
- Permanent solution to the technical problems of solar installations
Under the scheme, a dedicated cadre of “Solar Didis” (Energy Friends) will be created at the village level. Selected women will receive specialized training in the installation, operation, and technical maintenance of solar energy systems. These trained Solar Didis will be responsible for managing solar mills, cold storage, irrigation systems, and other solar assets at the village level. A major challenge facing solar installations in villages is the lack of trained solar technicians. This initiative will provide a permanent solution to the problem of technical malfunctions in remote and forested areas, ensuring the continued operationality of rural infrastructure.
This scheme will not only expand renewable energy in the state but will also establish rural women as owners, operators, and technical managers of energy assets. The primary objective of this scheme, run under the guidance of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, is to usher in a women-led green energy revolution in the state.
- Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) to become ‘Women’s Energy Cooperatives’
Under the scheme, cluster-level federations will be empowered and transformed into women-led energy cooperatives. These societies will collectively manage energy assets. They are being integrated as authorized vendors and channel partners under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana. CLFs in Mahasamund and Bastar districts have already registered as vendors. Bulk procurement of equipment at the state level will reduce costs, while Solar Didi will handle sales and servicing at the local level.
- Innovative payment model for affordable energy
For the convenience of rural consumers, the Dweepti scheme adopts “pay-per-use” and “pay-as-you-go” models. Under this scheme, consumers will only pay for the energy they use. To financially strengthen women’s energy enterprises, the government has taken the historic decision to reserve 25 percent of the work in panchayat maintenance contracts exclusively for these committees.
- Chhattisgarh’s women-led ‘green development model’ will become its identity.
The scheme has been drafted with technical support from Transform Rural India. Its comprehensive implementation will be carried out through the state’s renowned ‘Bihan’ network, with the active participation of approximately 2.7 lakh self-help groups in the state. This model will not only promote clean energy but also open new avenues of livelihood and leadership for rural women. The ‘Dweepti Yojana’ will prove to be a visionary initiative that will establish Chhattisgarh as a women-led ‘Green Development Model’ on the national stage.
“The contribution of our women to Chhattisgarh’s rural economy has always been exemplary. Through the ‘Dweepti Yojana,’ we are going to transform the state’s rural women from ‘consumers’ to ‘owners’ and ‘managers’ in the energy sector. This scheme is a major contribution of Chhattisgarh in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolve of ‘Net Zero’ and ‘Green India.’
“Our government aims to make every village in the state energy self-reliant, and our ‘Solar Didis’ should lead this transformation. When rural women manage modern energy systems themselves, it will not only increase their income but also provide a sustainable and clean foundation for rural development. The ‘Dweepti Yojana’ is another strong step towards a developed Chhattisgarh.” — Shri Vishnudev Sai, Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh