×

ESAF Urjabandhu

Overview

The promotion of clean energy is one of the major focus areas of ESAF. The aim is to develop a renewable and sustainable energy-friendly community. ESAF Urjabandhu is meant to support this initiative. The project aims to support clean energy entrepreneurs and spread awareness on clean energy among the communities.

As of now, 58 Urjabandhus successfully completed training in Solar PV System Design, Installation and Maintenance. 81% of the Urjabandhus were electricians, 7% were gulf returnees and 12% were unemployed youths. ESAF partners with Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME, Govt. of India) for this training.

After the completion of training, 13 Urjabandhus started their projects independently and completed 63KW installation in different solar projects. ESAF gives them support for designing and a WhatsApp group has been created for technical assistance and discussion.

Project Objectives

To train Urjabandhus in three states to promote energy- related services in local communities.

To train Urjabandhus to create awareness on clean energy among children, students and communities.

Activities

  • Trained three Batches on Solar PV System Design Installation & Maintenance.
  • Organised site visits for three Batches.
  • Organised two workshops and distributors’ meet, with the support of CEDAR.
  • Conducted two workshops on the topic “Clean Energy Loan” with the support of ESAF SFB.
  • Created three independent WhatsApp groups for each batch and a common group for communication, technical assistance, and discussion.
  • Conducted follow-up training for market linkages and business expansion.
  • Created a social media account (Facebook) for promoting and marketing Urjabandhus.
  • Handholding support to trained candidates to start their enterprises.
  • Identification of trainees.
  • Mobilisation for training programme.

Impacts

58 Participants successfully completed training.

13 Urjabandhus independently started working in their respective sectors.

5 Urjabandhus completed MSME registration.

Installation of 63 KW completed in different solar projects.

Leveraging the power of sun

The story of Muhammad Rahim

Muhammad Rahim hails from Thrissur district. His family consist of his wife and two children. In order to start a business of his own in Kerala, he left his job with a logistics firm abroad. His siblings were into the business of inverter and battery shops. Hence, he was also planning to start a similar business venture. Meanwhile, he started receiving orders for installing solar panels. As he was unaware of the business possibilities of solar panels, he relied on third parties for the installation and took a minimal commission as his due. Sensing the possibilities, he began to learn more about the solar business.

He came to know about the ESAF Urjabandhu training programme through one of his friends, and immediately seized the opportunity. He successfully completed the 5 days training in Solar PV system design installation and maintenance at renewable energy institute Mithradham, Aluva. The training programme helped him to learn the technical and marketing aspects of the Solar PV system. After the training, he managed to win the contract for installing four solar projects. Three of the projects have been completed and one is in progress. The entrepreneurship helped him to double his earnings.

Now he has plans to expand his business by providing employment opportunities to unemployed youth in his neighbourhood. “I am very much thankful to ESAF for the training. Now I feel that I took the right move in my business journey by entering the solar market,” he joyfully concluded.

A visual walkthrough of the project

Status of the project

The project fund was reallocated for COVID 19 activities.