Barmer, 8^th October,2020.

Necessities such as electricity and availability of assets ensure quality school education. While the role of tutors is important to ensure proper education in rural areas and small districts, access to basic amenities like electricity, water and safety also play a major role. The unavailability of electricity in more than 3500 schools in Barmer district posed a threat to quality education for students in the region. Having a regular supply of electricity to each and every school of Barmer has been a longstanding dream for students as well as teachers. 

Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Ltd., the largest private sector oil and gas exploration and production company in India, initiated School Solar Electrification Project : Maru Jyoti with an aim to provide electricity to schools through solar panels equipped to generate 1KW power. So far, Cairn has provided electricity to 100 schools under this project, which were not connected to the power grid earlier.

The project ensured that necessary infrastructural facilities were made available in schools of rural Barmer that led to a better academic environment. More students could attend classes and teachers saw increased classroom participation and productivity. The project also led to increased livelihood opportunities and incomes in the region through the use of local labor to establish solar power facilities in the operations & maintenance phase. Till date, the project has benefitted ~12,000 students and 600 teachers, covering 100 villages and 98 gram panchayats across Barmer.