Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met group of African women in Tanzania on Sunday who are curiously named as Solar Mamas.
Modi is on four-nation Africa tour to enhance ties with the region.
The Solar Mamas women were trained in India’s Tilonia township of Rajasthan about fixing and maintaining solar lamps, bulbs and panels. They are working as solar engineers returning back to their homes and helping communities in harnessing the power of solar energy in lighting up homes and villages.
The Barefoot College has been training up women from Africa and other developing countries about solar powers since 2008. It is funded by the Indian government.
Established in 1970 by social activist Bunker Roy as a voluntary organization the Barefoot College works in empowering the rural communities. The college is now highly popular among African women.
Following the meeting with Solar Mamas the Indian PM tweeted, “The hard work and dedication of the Solar Mamas impressed me. Enjoyed interacting with them.”
The Barefoot College offers solar electrification course for over 8-12 weeks. It is popuarl among women, especially mothers and grandmothers as they stay back in village and help the community while the men migrates to cities and other places for better jobs.
Since the start of the programme the college has helped electrifying 1,015 villages in 68 counties. It has changed the lives of about 500,000 villages.
The Barefoot College official website writes, “Using the practical skills gained at Barefoot, the Solar Mamas can light homes, schools and hospitals, and will maintain and repair lamps and panels for up to five years.”
