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Community-led clean energy model enables
sustainable livelihoods, women-led enterprises, and climate resilience in rural
Maharashtra
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The partnership delivers reliable solar power,
boosts agricultural productivity, and empowers women and communities through an
integrated Climate Smart Village model
Palghar,
Maharashtra, 30 April 2026 : Spreading Happiness InDiya Foundation
(SHIF), a non-profit collaboration between Sachin Tendulkar, Sachin Tendulkar
Foundation (STF)and Schneider Electric India, has transformed Guhir village in
Maharashtra into a Climate Smart Village to drive clean energy access and
sustainable livelihoods in rural India. The initiative focuses on enabling
reliable energy access and strengthening rural livelihoods through an
integrated, community-led model.
In
an event today, Sachin Tendulkar was joined by Sara Tendulkar, and Saaniya
Tendulkar, where they interacted with the beneficiaries, met women farmers and
took stock of the diverse agricultural, craft, as well as horticulture products
showcased by the village self-help groups.
At
its core is a 40-kW solar array integrated with Schneider Electric
IoT-enabled smart power management system that optimises energy use based
on demand. The system powers irrigation pumps and agro-processing units,
including paddy threshers, rice mill machines and spice processing units, which
are operated through a women-led Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) managing
local produce and strengthening the village’s value chain. It also supports
113 households, around 25 streetlights, and essential services, while
electrifying the local Anganwadi, benefiting over 30 children.
Talking
about the initiative, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar said, “Real change is
often simple and grounded, and in Guhir we have seen a glimpse of that. When
children, women, and youth take the lead, development becomes sustainable and
meaningful. I hope this inspires many more villages to follow. I congratulate
everyone involved in this initiative, and I am glad that SHIF was able to bring
together like-minded teams to achieve this.”
On
stage, Sachin was impressed by the brilliant oratory of the school children
from the village. He added that these children will go on to put the name of
their region on to the global stage. Noting that the village also houses a
smart school under the SHIF, in cricketing terms, he wants to see the scorecard
of such an integrated sustainable village model multiply.
Speaking
on the occasion, Mr. Deepak Sharma, Zone President – Greater India and MD
& CEO, Schneider Electric India, said, "Clean Energy and
Sustainable Livelihoods is the foundation on which communities build better
lives. Guhir is a powerful demonstration of what becomes possible when
technology, purpose, and partnership come together. Through SHIF, we are
enabling farmers to grow more, empowering women to lead enterprises, and giving
young people a reason to build their futures right where they belong.”
Reliable
and sustainable energy access is critical to enabling livelihoods,
strengthening rural infrastructure, and improving quality of life. However,
many rural regions continue to face challenges due to inconsistent power supply
and dependence on traditional energy sources. Climate Smart Villages aim to
address these challenges by integrating clean and advanced energy technologies
to support sustainable and inclusive development.
Implemented
in partnership with the BAIF Institute for Sustainable Livelihoods and
Development (BISLD), the initiative combines renewable energy technologies with
community-led interventions to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen
livelihoods, and build climate resilience.
Building
on BAIF’s foundation, SHIF has adopted a holistic model focused on
socio-economic upliftment, doubling irrigated land through solar-powered pumps,
enabling solar-based agro-processing for higher farmer incomes, and ensuring
24x7 clean energy for households and street lighting. The initiative promotes
community ownership through a women-led, community-managed approach.
The
inauguration of Guhir as a Climate Smart Village marks a defining milestone,
celebrating not just infrastructure but the power of collective purpose.
Bringing together communities, civil society, and industry, this initiative
demonstrates how clean energy can drive inclusive growth and lasting climate
resilience. With the Guhir model poised for replication across India, Schneider
Electric remains committed to enabling energy access and driving sustainable
development, contributing to the nation’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.
About
SHIF
Spreading
Happiness InDiya Foundation (SHIF) (https://www.shif.in/)
is a collaboration between Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, through Sachin Tendulkar
Foundation (STF), and Schneider Electric India (https://www.se.com/in/en/),
a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability, who have come together to “Spread Happiness”
by providing access to green energy to rural and semi urban communities of
India and empowering communities and school children with sustainable
livelihood opportunities and updated digital means of education through
Renewable Energy, thus achieving SDG-4 and SDG-7 (Quality Education and
Affordable and Clean Energy).
About
Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF)
The
Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (https://www.sachintendulkarfoundation.org/)
is the philanthropic institution of the Tendulkar family. Established with the vision
of giving back to India, the foundation focuses on health, education, and
sports for children. Through a network of committed partners, STF serves
underserved communities across 18 states, reaching geographies that are often
left unreached.
About
Schneider Electric
Schneider
Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and
sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries,
businesses, and homes. Its technologies enable buildings, data centres,
factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected
ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The
portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures,
AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory. With 160,000
employees and 1 million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is
consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable companies.
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