Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Jharkhand Girls Lead Solar Innovation
In a village in Jharkhand, India, young women and girls have become experts in solar technology.
Their teacher, Animesh Chandra, taught them how to make and fix solar-powered devices like lights and power banks.
This helped them during the COVID-19 pandemic when they needed electricity for online classes.
The girls also trained other women in the village.
They even started a small business selling these devices.
The village has a lot of coal, but these young women are showing that solar power can be a better and cleaner option.
They hope to make their whole village run on solar power one day.
Some of them have won awards and grants for their work, and they want to get jobs in the solar energy field in the future.
Students in Dantoo village, Jharkhand, developed solar power banks to address erratic electricity supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teacher Animesh Chandra trained students in solar technology and electronics as part of a government vocational skills program.
Girls outnumbered boys in the program, and they trained 30 village women in solar technology in October 2024.
The students have repaired over 10,000 LED bulbs and manufactured over 20,000 LED bulbs and 1,500 solar-powered bulbs since 2021.
The initiative aims to reduce the village's dependence on coal and has opened up job opportunities for the young women in the renewable energy sector.
- Who
- Students and women of Dantoo village, Jharkhand, led by teacher Animesh Chandra
- What
- Developed and maintained solar-powered devices to address erratic electricity supply
- When
- Program started in 2020, with ongoing activities and training
- Where
- Dantoo village in Kasara block, Bokaro district, Jharkhand
- Why
- To provide reliable electricity for online classes and reduce dependence on coal
- Location
- Dantoo, Kasara block, Bokaro district, Jharkhand
- Initiator
- Animesh Chandra (teacher)
- Program
- Government vocational skills program under Samagra Shiksha
- Devices Made
- Solar lights, LED bulbs, power banks, emergency lights, loudspeakers, solar tree
- Repairs Completed
- More than 10,000 LED bulbs since 2021
- Manufactured Devices
- More than 20,000 LED bulbs and 1,500 solar-powered bulbs
- Training Expanding
- 30 village women trained in October 2024
- Grants Received
- Deepika Kumari (Rs 50,000), Aparna Kumari (Rs 1 lakh)