Promoting 15000 Improved Cooking and Women-led Entrepreneurship in Bihar

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS-Jeevika) has been promoting clean cooking and lighting solutions in the backward districts of Bihar among women's self-help networks for over a decade and a half. The establishment and operationalization of women-led energy entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of the programme that only disseminates the relevant technology solution but also provides aftersales service in rural and remote areas. The model involved setting up Uttam Urja Kendras or Solar Marts that are run by Women Energy Entrepreneurs (WEEs) who are mostly members of local self-help groups. The WEEs are trained and supported in business-related activities such as awareness generation, marketing, product demonstrations, after-sales service, etc.

In 2021-2022, with the support of the World Bank, TERI piloted Women-Led Energy Entrepreneurs (WEEs) led to the establishment of 25 women entrepreneurs across five districts of Bihar along with carrying out the Willingness to Pay Survey of 500 households. The initiative has increased the number of women's participation in the sales, installation, and services of energy services, particularly IDES systems. With the success of this program, JEEViKA and J-WiRES (state-level women-led clean energy company by JEEViKA) scaled up women's energy entrepreneurship (Solar Marts) to around 400 as of this date.

TERI is committed to reaching out to an additional 15000 households in the backward districts of Bihar through clean cooking and lighting initiatives with the establishment of nearly 60 women-led enterprises during 2023-26.

For some of the stories and further clarity of program, click the following links:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2024/06/05/smoke-free-kitchens-transforming-lives-with-improved-stoves-in-bihar-india

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/endpovertyinsouthasia/india--women-entrepreneurs-in-bihar-help-improve-air-quality-thr0

https://www.teriin.org/article/hope-amidst-floods-and-challenges-story-ides-technology-lighting-billion-lives-program-teri 

https://www.teriin.org/article/distributed-renewable-energy-transforms-womens-lives-rural-bihar 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359760757_Gender-Inclusive_Renewable_Energy_Delivery_Model_A_Case_Study_in_Rural_Bihar_India