Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has underlined the critical role of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) in shaping India’s clean energy future and empowering rural women as leaders in the sector.
Speaking at the DRE Samwad organised by the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) under the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Maurya said that DRE must be seen not only as a tool to generate clean power but also as a movement to transform rural communities.
He announced that by 2030, every Gram Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh will have a Surya Sakhi—a trained woman entrepreneur leading solar initiatives. The state also aims to establish over 3,000 solar shops and enable more than 100,000 women-led enterprises to transition to solar energy.
“Our goal is to ensure that rural women are not just consumers of energy but also energy leaders, driving local enterprises and shaping the nation’s future,” Maurya said.
Themed ‘Energising Women, Transforming Community’, the event brought together government officials, policy experts, development partners, and grassroots entrepreneurs. Officials highlighted that DRE solutions have the potential to provide clean, affordable, and sustainable energy to rural households while unlocking new livelihood opportunities.
India has set an ambitious target of achieving energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070. Maurya stressed that decentralised renewable solutions would play a pivotal role in meeting these milestones while advancing women’s empowerment across Uttar Pradesh.
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