Fifteen years ago, Kamala Devi from a remote village in Rajasthan had shot to fame when she became the first woman barefoot solar engineer. Earlier this month, she added another feather to her cap when she was made the head of the manufacturing, repairing and training unit of solar energy equipment at Kadampura, an expanded centre of the Barefoot College at Tilonia.
She has also been given the added responsibility of supervising the running of 10 night schools for children in eight remote villages in and around Kadampura.
The Barefoot College, known as Social Work and Research Centre, was founded by Bunker Ray in 1972. It is a voluntary organisation working in the fields of education, skill development, health, drinking water, women empowerment and electrification through solar power for the upliftment of rural people.
Born in a financially-weak family in Tihri village, Kamala Devi, like many other children, worked during the day and attended a night school. In 1986, kerosene lamps were replaced with solar lamps in her school. Kamala wondered how a lantern could give light without kerosene and this perhaps is where began her fascination for solar lamps. Little did she know at that time that one day she would be able to manufacture a solar lantern herself and train others to do so.
She met with stiff resistance initially from her family and the village society but ultimately her perseverance paid. Later in 1997, she was selected for training for barefoot solar engineering at a workshop in Beenjarwada village. Once more, she faced a lot of opposition but her husband and father-in-law stood by her this time.
-By S.MAria.
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