Light Up Karnataka

Updated 12 September 2016

The Project

Light Up Karnataka is a joint initiative between TEL and Brothers Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS) to power rural homes with point-of-use solar lighting solutions. By training local female sales agents and outfitting remote retail shops with inventories of solar lights through a microconsignment model, the program creates employment opportunities for local entrepreneurs, while also providing a safe, cost-effective and sustainable alternative to kerosene lamps and candles for thousands of families.

TEL's Role

Upon engaging the organization through a detailed needs assessment, TEL initially identified and procured demo solar lighting solutions from five different providers for field testing and product focus groups. TEL also led fundraising efforts to purchase inventory and fund the entrepreneurship training program. TEL and BIRDS work continuously to monitor, evaluate and optimize the performance of the program.

Results

After field testing five demo units and conducting extensive interviews with key participants, three Greenlight Planet solar lighting models were selected as viable solutions that responded to users’ expressed needs and aspirations. TEL received a generous grant from the Dear Foundation to seed Light up Karnataka. BIRDS and TEL are now working with ten local entrepreneurs to light up off-grid villages in Karnataka with clean, affordable and durable lighting solutions.