Poet Na. Dhon. Mahanor once lamented the state of villages, asking in a poem, "Why return to the village, for whom and for what?" However, after witnessing Manyachiwadi, Maharashtra's first solar-powered village, even his despair would have lifted, revealing a transformed community.

Only a few villages are truly powered by solar energy, Manyachiwadi stands as a shining example. Curious to know more? Let’s explore this groundbreaking village with Baimanus

This village is located in Satara district, which already boasts several "firsts." Bhilar is the state's first village of books, Dhumalwadi the first village of fruits, Manghur the first village of honey, and Mahadare the first village of butterflies—all within the same district. Now, another village joins this list, one that is self-sufficient in energy.

Traveling along the Karad-Dhebewadi road in Satara, a right turn from the Maldan fork leads you to the Vang River, muddy from hillside erosion. After crossing a tributary of the Vang River and turning right, you’re greeted by the entrance of the Gram Panchayat.

Surrounded by thick green forests, with peacocks calling from the hills and the weather alternating between rain and sunshine, you arrive at Manyachiwadi, Maharashtra's first solar village. This village now stands as a new model of sustainable development, powered by solar energy.

(After Placing the solar plates on every house, Manyachiwadi looks like a Solar Village) 

Looking at the structure of the village houses from a height,
Past hills where peacocks greet the skies,
In rain and sun, where nature lies,
A solar village shines so bright,
A beacon of hope, a future light.
A house in the village Koularu slight.

I remember this poem. Some houses are Koularu, some are Patrya(Tin-shed), and some are modern two-story homes. Regardless of the type, each house has solar panels installed on its roof. Before addressing questions about the design and electricity generation of these panels, let’s first look at how it all began...

The village got a reward of one crore in the 'Mazi Vasundhara' campaign

Manyachiwadi, a small agricultural village with around 420 families, recently won a significant reward of one crore in the 'Mazi Vasundhara' campaign. Once a place where many villagers sought opportunities in Mumbai, Manyachiwadi is now a beacon of success, drawing statewide attention.

The village’s achievements are widely recognized, with numerous state awards highlighting its efforts. About four years ago, Maharashtra launched the 'Mazi Vasundhara' campaign, focusing on sustainable development through the five elements of nature: land, water, air, energy, and nurture. This initiative aims to raise awareness about climate change and environmental issues, encouraging citizens to take proactive steps to preserve the environment.

(Manyachiwadi was awarded 50 lakhs rupees two times in a row for executing 'Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan' well.)

Unity transformed the village's future

Manyachiwadi Gram Panchayat embraced the 'Mazi Vasundhara' campaign with enthusiasm, earning awards for two consecutive years and receiving Rs 50 lakh each time. This money was used to make the village self-sufficient in energy.

Through the combined efforts of villagers, Mahavitaran officials, and Tata Solar employees, Manyachiwadi became Maharashtra's first solar village. The dedication of village sarpanch Ravindra Mane was crucial in achieving this milestone, aiming to provide better facilities and reduce carbon emissions.

Embracing non-conventional energy sources to cut carbon emissions

 Manyachiwadi proudly stands as the state's first solar village. Solar energy is viewed as a vital alternative to fossil fuels like coal and diesel, which drive climate change. While solar panels can be costly and seem difficult to maintain, Manyachiwadi proves that collective effort can make it feasible.

Electricity is crucial for daily activities, and power outages often halt essential tasks. However, with the village's new solar project, load regulation issues are now rare, bringing much-needed stability.

Vandana Pachupet, a local resident, shares her relief: "With solar power, tasks like grinding flour and fetching water are uninterrupted. Our electricity bills have dropped from four to five hundred rupees, and the savings go towards other essential needs. We're proud that our village is recognized at the state level for this achievement."

('My Vasundhara Abhiyan' based on the five elements of nature i.e. earth, water, air, fire, sky.)

A permanent alternative to an electricity tariff hike

The slogan of Mahavitran is that saving electricity means generating electricity. Manyachawadi, however, has not only generated electricity by saving electricity but has also generated electricity based on non-conventional energy sources. One kilowatt of solar panels is installed on the roof of each house and four kilowatts of electricity will be generated from solar panels installed on farm wells.

A hundred-kilowatt power generation project is being set up in Manyachiwadi in the village. Five hundred units of electricity will be generated from this every day. The current requirement of the village is 300 units, and the remaining 200 units of electricity will be sold to Mahadistraan.

After consuming the required electricity, the remaining electricity will be sold to the distribution. For this, the help of the 'Pradhan Mantri Suryagh'r' scheme is also going to be taken. The subsidy received under this Suryghar Yojana will be used to install these solar panels.

What if there is no sunlight as this project is implemented with the help of Mahavitran? No worries about that. Arrangements have been made so that when electricity is not generated from the solar panel due to lack of sunlight, electricity from the Maha distribution will be available. If the same electricity is generated in excess, it will be sold to the distribution. The work of installing solar panels on the roofs of 118 houses in the Wadi has been completed by up to 80 percent.

Mahavitaran has 104 customers in this village. Among them, all consumers, including street lamps, village panchayats, anganwadis, and primary schools, have installed solar panels. It can be said that the villagers of Wadi have been freed from the problem of electricity price hikes and load regulation.

(Employees installing solar panels in the village)

This solar power project will be... 

1) Electricity generation will be done on the roofs of the houses of 100 electricity consumers in the village.
2) Separate project of 5 kg for Gram Panchayat Office, School, Anganwadi.
3) Independent project of 4 kg on the well of the water supply scheme.
4) A solar power plant of one-kilowatt capacity on the roof of every house.
5) About fifteen hundred units (annual) of electricity generation 1500 will be generated on the roof of each house.
6) Villagers will generate lakhs of units (annually) of electricity.
7) Help to be carbon neutral with energy emissions.
8) Villagers sought a permanent solution to the frequent hike in electricity rates.

Such messages are written at various places in the village and basic facilities are made available at the public place 

As the success of the Koyna Dam power plant as a foundation, the solar revolution in Manyachiwadi marks a new era for Maharashtra. As this village leads the way in harnessing non-conventional energy, it sets a powerful precedent for sustainable development across the state.

The clean energy generated here is not just lighting up homes, but also illuminating a path for countless other villages to follow. In the coming years, Manyachiwadi will stand as a beacon of progress, inspiring a broader shift towards green energy and sustainable living across Maharashtra."

(This is a special series on 'Climate Change & Gender' under 'Project Dharitri' jointly run by Asar and BaiManus)