In a significant push to bolster early childhood care across Karnataka, the state is bringing solar power to nearly 2,000 anganwadi centers. The move promises to light up classrooms, power learning tools, and ensure reliable energy for nutrition and health services—especially in remote areas where electricity has been spotty or absent.

Key facts

  • 1,900 anganwadi centers to receive solar systems
  • Project cost: ₹16 crore
  • Partnership between Department of Women and Child Development and SELCO Foundation
  • Focus on remote and infrastructure-deficient areas

A Brighter Future for Early Learning

The initiative, signed into action by WCD Director Mahesh Babu and SELCO Foundation Director Huda Jaffer, targets centers classified as 'Saksham' and 'Non-Saksham,' with special attention to those without grid access. Some 1,500 centers will get 250 Wp DC solar systems, while 400 will receive more robust 630 Wp AC setups.

Training and Tech Support

It’s not just about hardware. Anganwadi staff will receive training on operating and maintaining the solar systems. They’ll learn to troubleshoot common issues and use the Soura e-Mitra app to report faults and seek technical help—a digital lifeline meant to keep the power flowing and downtime minimal.

Building on Past Success

This isn’t SELCO’s first rodeo in Karnataka. The foundation has already partnered with the state’s Health Department under the Soura Swasthya initiative, bringing solar power to over 3,700 health facilities since November 2024. That experience now fuels this new effort, extending reliable clean energy to another critical public service.

The programme seeks to provide solar power to 5,000 public health facilities by 2026.

There’s palpable optimism here. By demonstrating how clean energy can support early childhood development, these model anganwadi centers could become blueprints for other states—showing what’s possible when political will meets grassroots innovation.