In Dehradun, a group of rural women has found a new source of income through LED bulb training. The women, who used to work as daily wage laborers or farmhands, are now able to earn a sustainable livelihood by manufacturing and selling LED bulbs, all thanks to Kamalpreet Kaur, the founder of Ora Infini.
Kaur, a commerce graduate with no technical skills or experience, wanted to make a tangible difference. After completing her MBA in industrial management, she took up a job in the industrial area in 2007-08, a time when few women were involved in this field. That’s when her dream took shape, which got realised in 2015.
Instead of the indulging in women-centric domains, she decided to step into the male-dominated industry and started her business in electricals. “Women are always involved in fabrics, craft and cooking, but they are capable of more. We need to give them a chance to take up science and technology; LED is just an entry into this. With this thought, I started the LED light business, for which we have trained around 3,500 women. We are working with self-help groups and women inmates in jails”, says Kaur, who has now made it her business’s mission to provide livelihoods for generations of women.
She says, “We started growing when everyone started working together. The financial gain may not be much, but it makes us happy because many women have joined us.”
The LED bulb training initiative in Dehradun is a shining example of how sustainable development can be achieved through the empowerment of rural communities, especially women. By providing them with the necessary skills and resources, we can create a more equitable and environmentally sustainable future for all.