Remember when we first told the story of Muzaffarpur’s ‘Solar Didi’ transforming lives with solar pumps? Her inspiring journey has become a perfect example of women’s empowerment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his radio program Mann ki Baat, called her “Solar Didi” because she changed her difficult life into success by using solar energy for farming.
A resident of Ratanpura under Bochaha block, Devki Devi, once faced severe financial difficulties. She married Sunil Sahni at a young age and is a mother of four children. Life became harder when her husband lost his job as a sweeper in a private bank in 2022, and soon after, a fire destroyed everything they owned. At that time, it was difficult for the family to survive.
Her journey changed when she learned about the solar pump scheme under JEEViKA self-help groups. Her own family and villagers initially said that the scheme was fake, so you do not take a loan. But the members of the local JEEViKA group motivated her to take the risk.
That is why Devki took a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh at 10% interest in 2023 and set up solar panels on half a kattha( 680.5 square feet) of land. Today, she supplies water from a water pump to more than 40 acres of farmland, helping 112 farmers, who pay her through UPI. This has given her a stable income and also made farming easier for her community. Her work not only takes care of her own family but also motivates other women to use solar energy.
Now the president of the Krishna JEEViKA self-help group, Devki says, “At first, everyone thought it was a fraud, but with JEEViKA’s support, I made it happen.” Her husband Sunil, once worried about their future, is now her biggest supporter. Remembering their tough days, he says he feels proud of her success and hopes she achieves even more.
At Renewable Affairs, we love bringing you true stories that inspire change. We will always support such ground-level efforts that make a real difference in people’s lives.
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