Days start and end early in rural India. Without proper lighting facilities women cook and children study in the light of a candle or lamps lit up by kerosene oil. This poses numerous health hazards and is not environment friendly. Women on Wings, with over 10 years’ experience of working in rural India, supports Philips Lighting’s initiative to cater to the needs of rural households with innovative lighting solutions to improve their livelihoods.
Impact on daily activities
End 2017, Women on Wings facilitated a base line survey amongst rural households which had received Philips Lifelight indoor solar lights in Pilibhit District in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The end objective of the program is to measure and document the impact of access to solar light on daily activities of women and children in the families.
Solar lights enhances livelihoods
On February 21 and 22, 2018, a Women on Wings team visited the villages of Pilibhit to assess the impact of 1,600 lights that were distributed to as many households. The response was very encouraging. Women and children have really benefitted: they have stopped using kerosene lamps and are pleased that the solar lights do not put any strain to their eyes and there is also no smoke in the house anymore. Moreover, they have started to save money as they no longer need to buy kerosene for their daily lighting needs.
Support of Hon’ble Minister Maneka Gandhi
Shilpa Mittal Singh, joint MD at Women on Wings: “We worked together with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for distribution of solar light systems in about 1,600 rural households in Pilibhit District in the state of Uttar Pradesh. With an average of 7 people per family, the lights are positively impacting the lives of over 11,000 rural beneficiaries. We are very proud that the program is a huge success and many more people want the solar lights. We are grateful for the support given to us by the Hon’ble Minister Maneka Gandhi”. In an event to be held in March 2018 Mrs. Maneka Gandhi will distribute Philips Lifelight solar lights to 100 brides in a mass wedding organized by the Ministry of Women and Child development.
Women on Wings survey best practice
Yue Cui, CSR Program Manager at Philips Lighting: “At Philips Lighting, we are very impressed by the thoroughness and structure of the survey performed by the Women on Wings team in villages where our solar lights were distributed. We have decided to share the Women on Wings survey as a best practice in our standard Monitoring & Evaluation template, which will now become a benchmark for all our other projects in this domain.” The solar lighting program executed by Philips Lighting India and Women on Wings is supported by Philips Lighting Foundation.
