Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Shelakewadi: Maharashtra's Solar-Powered, Gender-Equal Pink Village
Shelakewadi, a small village in Maharashtra, has become a shining example of sustainability and gender equality.
It's fully solar-powered, with pink houses registered in women's names.
The village has won many awards for its innovative initiatives and aims to become plastic-free.
Shelakewadi village in Maharashtra is fully solar-powered, with 99 homes running on 1 kW systems and two on 2 kW.
Every house is painted pink and registered in a woman's name, promoting gender equality.
The village has won numerous awards for its sanitation drives, solar initiatives, and inclusive governance.
Agriculture remains the backbone, with self-sufficiency in edible oil production and daily milk supply to Kolhapur.
The village aims to become single-use plastic-free and contest the National Panchayat Award.
- Who
- Shelakewadi villagers and local officials
- What
- Transformed the village into a fully solar-powered, gender-equal community
- When
- Since 2004, with the solar revolution starting around 2014
- Where
- Shelakewadi village, Maharashtra, India
- Why
- To achieve sustainability, gender equality, and grassroots innovation
Pro-Solar Advocates
Solar Skeptics
Energy Independence
Pro-Solar Advocates
Solar power reduces dependence on conventional electricity, which can be expensive and powered by fossil fuels.
Solar Skeptics
Solar panels have upfront costs and may not be feasible for all villages due to financial constraints.
- Population
- Around 500
- Number of homes
- Approximately 100
- Solar panel capacity
- 1 kW (99 homes), 2 kW (2 homes)
- Awards won
- Nanaji Deshmukh National Pride Gram Sabha, Yashwant Gram Panchayat Award, Nirmal Gram Puraskar, Sant Gadge Baba Gram Swachhta Abhiyan, ISO 9001:2015 certification
- Main crops
- Sugarcane, sunflower, groundnut, soybean
- Daily milk supply
- 300 liters to Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh Ltd.