10,000 Women led Businesses to be empowered through DRE Solutions Integration

By: WE staff | Friday, 21 February 2025

• The Decentralized Renewable Energy for Women Economic Empowerment (DEWEE) programme was launched by the State Rural Development Department.
• The initiative aims to connect women-led businesses with Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) products.
• The programme was introduced under the UP State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM).

The State Rural Development Department has launched the Decentralized Renewable Energy for Women Economic Empowerment (DEWEE) programme to connect women-led businesses with Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) products.

The initiative is part of the UP State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), which is led by Deepa Ranjan, Director of UPSRLM. Deepa has prior experience in administrative services where she has focused on rural development, women empowerment, and sustainable livelihood initiatives. She emphasized that women from self-help groups have successfully established lakhs of enterprises across Uttar Pradesh.

DEWEE initiative links women-led businesses with DRE products such as solar aata chakki, solar water pumps, solar dryers, solar cold storage, and more. “Nearly 10,000 enterprises will be linked to DRE solutions in the first phase,” says Deepa.

Additionally, a three-year partnership with UPNEDA under the Surya Sakhi programme aims to deploy 57,702 Surya Sakhis in each panchayat to promote solar enterprises. UPNEDA Director Anupam Shukla pledged to provide employment opportunities for women in self-help groups through DRE solutions.