Across rural India, limited access to reliable electricity profoundly affects education and healthcare. In May 2025, Dr. Janet Mancini Billson, an international development expert and dedicated Solar Village Project (SVP) volunteer, undertook an extensive three-week field tour in Uttar Pradesh. Through interviews with over 350 individuals—including teachers, students, healthcare providers, and patients—her findings highlight critical challenges and inspiring opportunities for transformative change.
The Energy Crisis Holding Back Progress
Snapshot of the Challenge: Key Rural Indicators
Data sources: National averages based on 2022 Statista data; field-specific observations from Dr. Janet Billson’s May 2025 SVP impact tour.
Category | Indicator | Observation (Uttar Pradesh, 2025) |
Schools with Electricity | National Average | 89% (but many with unreliable supply) |
Average Class Size | Rural Schools | 50+ students per class |
Clinics with Reliable Power | Rural Primary Health Centers (PHCs) | Fewer than 30% have consistent electricity |
Patient Load per PHC | Monthly Average | 2,000–3,000 patients with 5 or fewer staff |
Girls’ Dropout Rate | Rural Secondary Education | Higher due to lack of sanitation and safety |
Delivery Conditions | Rural PHCs without Solar Backup | Common use of candles/phones for lighting |
Schools:
- Unbearable heat in classrooms without fans leads to decreased attention and significant health risks for students and teachers.
- Poor lighting severely restricts both learning hours and educational quality.
- Unsafe drinking water due to unreliable power for filtration systems directly impacts student health, attendance, and overall educational achievement.
Clinics:
- Nighttime deliveries by candlelight or mobile phone lights put mothers, newborns, and nurses at serious risk.
- Frequent power outages and equipment failures significantly hinder critical healthcare services, medication storage, and patient safety.
- Severely limited sanitation and clean water access increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable patients.
Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide
Students and healthcare workers in rural India see the opportunities available in urban areas—well-equipped schools, hospitals, and advanced digital technology. Yet, despite India’s commitment to achieving global Sustainable Development Goals, rural regions often lag considerably behind.
SVP doesn’t replace government initiatives; rather, our solar installations bridge crucial gaps, ensuring reliable energy precisely where it’s most urgently needed.
Solar Energy—A Practical, Immediate Solution
Solar power offers a transformative, sustainable solution, directly addressing the challenges faced by rural communities:
- Consistent classroom lighting and cooling enhance educational outcomes, student well-being, and teacher performance.
- Reliable healthcare facilities, enabling safe childbirth, effective treatments, and proper storage of essential medicines.
- Clean water systems powered by solar energy significantly improve community health and hygiene.
Real Impact, Real Stories
SVP’s solar projects have already dramatically improved thousands of lives:
- Students now study comfortably, significantly enhancing their learning potential and future prospects.
- Healthcare professionals deliver safe, reliable, round-the-clock care without the stress of frequent power interruptions.
- Communities experience substantial improvements in health, education, and economic stability.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
Dr. Billson’s research clearly demonstrates the urgent and compelling need for sustainable energy solutions in rural India. Each solar installation creates immediate, measurable improvement, but we can’t achieve these results without your help.
Your support directly contributes to brighter futures, healthier communities, and lasting development. Join us in bringing reliable, renewable energy to rural India—one school, one clinic, one community at a time.
Make a lasting impact today.
Photo Credits: ©Dr. Janet Mancini Billson, Group Dimensions International
