Sonbhadra’s tribal women to run UP’s first solar panel unit
VARANASI: Sonbhadra is all set to have first solar panel manufacturing plant of the state.
A brainchild of DM Amit Kumar Singh, the plant will be operated and managed by tribal women. The unit is likely to be a reality in the next two months in tribal dominated Duddhi area of the district.
The proposed plant will come up under Mission ‘Son Swavlambhan’, an initiative by district administration of Sonbhadra, to connect the groups created under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) with various employment opportunities. The district administration is bringing up the ambitious project in collaboration with the IIT-Bombay.
“The first solar panel manufacturing plant in the district will be managed and operated by the women,” DM Amit Kumar Singh said.
Singh has already inspected a piece of land in Duddhi area and hopes that the land required for the plant will be finalised soon.
Singh revealed that the idea to bring up plant in the district struck his mind after he came to know that several tribal women were expert in assembling solar lanterns.
He thought if these women were imparted training in making solar panels, then they can do wonders. Thereafter, he approached the authorities at IIT-Bombay for training and technical advice for setting up the plant.
Experts from IIT-Bombay will impart training in making solar panels to the tribal women in Sonbhadra and also give technical advice for setting up the plant.
Singh has entrusted the responsibility to chief development officer Sunil Verma to further expedite the process for making plant a reality.
“The process to identify and finalise a piece of land is under way. The plant will be a reality in near future. It will provide employment to over 5,00 women, mostly tribal,” Verma said.
Solar wafers will be made available to the women at the plant where they will make solar panels. These will be supplied in the district and other areas.
He said once the plant started functioning, the women would be imparted training in marketing of solar panels.