Husk Power, Smart Power India Launch Campaign to Boost Income of Solar-Powered, Women-Led Rural MSMEs in India

Smart Power India (SPI) and Husk Power Systems jointly launched a new campaign, Pragati Ki Aur, in order to help in increasing the income of women-owned small businesses in India, along with promoting greater use of affordable, reliable and clean electricity.
 
The campaign, supported by the German development agency GIZ, aimed at increasing footfall and generating more revenue for women-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
 
In the initial phase, around 500 women business owners were recruited in the communities served by Husk’s solar microgrids. After recruitment, coupons valued at up to 1 million INR (USD 12,500) were distributed to drive more business to these MSMEs. Coupon holders are eligible for discounts on the products/services offered by the businesses. Moreover, for every redeemed coupon, the women entrepreneurs will receive free electricity from Husk worth the face value of the coupon.
 
Samit Mitra, Head-Programs, Smart Power India, further explained that, “Clean and reliable energy access can help women to become financially independent through better livelihood opportunities and improve their living standards. We not only facilitate reliable power access for rural women entrepreneurs but also assist them with resources and skill-training to help increase productivity and run their businesses more efficiently, which translates into improved socio-economic outcomes for them and their families.”
 
“Companies in the microgrid industry should fully commit to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion for their own business operations, but especially for their customers,” said Saugata Datta, India Country Director for Husk Power. “Pragati ki Aur is a major step in that direction and demonstrates a strategic commitment to gender diversification in the communities we serve and to opening up new opportunities for the new-age woman entrepreneur.”
 
Smart Power India and Husk are working together to understand the current status of women’s inclusion in the rural economy and are designing additional interventions using clean energy to enable higher impact for women-led small businesses.
 
The two organizations believe in setting up an ecosystem that is not just limited to electricity for lighting but also for creating livelihoods that will contribute to sustaining the demand and improving living standards and the rural economy.