India: Women Farmers in Bihar Turn to Solar Pumps, Overcoming Patriarchy, Woes

Mar 2, 2025
Press Trust of India
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Indu Devi, a 35-year-old widow from Suryahi village, knows the weight of despair all too well. When her husband was hanged over a land dispute, she was left with little more than a small patch of land and debts.

But then, she heard about the concept of using solar pumps in fields for business. Despite her initial fears of how would she, a woman with no technical knowledge, operate a pump? She took the leap of faith.

Today, she earns a steady income by supplying water to neighbouring fields.

"It's just a switch on and off. But it has given me a way to survive," she said.

 In this area, Indu's story is inspirational but not unique. A number of women, as part of self-help groups (SHGs), have invested in solar pumps on their land for irrigation, transforming their lives and livelihoods.