Women and energy policies

Changes in the availability of energy, due to policy interventions, have different impacts on men and women. Therefore, gender needs to be taken into account when developing energy policy. The following section explains some of the gender sensitive energy reforms in India.

Gender sensitive energy programmes

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - ‘Saubhagya’ a scheme was launched on 25th September, 2017 to provide free electricity connections to all households (both APL and poor families) in rural areas and poor families in urban areas. 

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched on 01.05.2016. The main objective of the scheme is to provide deposit free LPG connections to women from poor households. The Government had set a target of 5 Crore LPG connections to be distributed to the poor households under the scheme. Subsequently, the target was enhanced to 8 Crore.  Ujjwala 2.0: Additional allocation of 1.6 Crore LPG Connections under PMUY Scheme with special facility to migrant households. 

Barefoot College, Tilonia : a community-based grassroots organization working to make marginalized communities sustainable and self-sufficient since 1972. They work on capacity building for women on Solar LED Lights and other RE products, training women in Repairing and Installation.

Hariyali Green Villages - Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) & Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS) - Women-Led Climate and Clean Energy Solutions for Prosperity in Rural India

MOSONiE Socio Economic Foundation is a Non-Profit Organization led by a group of young and passionate women committed to work for the marginalized and underserved community in Northeast India. The organization is registered as Section 8 Company based at Pillangkata, Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya. The objective of the initiative is:

• To increase the productivity of Eri silk spinners by providing solar powered Eri spinning machine to women.
• To provide finance options to afford a spinning machine.
• To promote women's entrepreneurship in the area of work.
• Helping with the finances by connecting rural women with banks under various schemes.
• Providing capacity building training to individuals on the use of machines/to train other people.

For more such initiatives, visit Women in renewable energy

Source : Portal Content Team