- Conquered ignorance and crushing poverty to become the CEO of The Durga Project
- Persistently striving towards creating a liberal space for working women in rural Rajasthan
- Look forward to more projects like Durga for the welfare of rural Indian women
Rukmani Devi Katara, CEO, Durga energy, once fiercely took up the challenge of fighting odds and in the process empowered thousands of women in rural Rajasthan to attain financial independence and become self reliant. Rukmani was just 15 years of age when she was married off by her parents. Belonging to a remote village in Rajasthan, Rukmani could hardly anticipate the ordeals that her journey had in store. Rukmani’s aspiration to defeat hardships forged her into a visionary leader whom her children look up to.
Maze of challenges and a silver lining for Rukmani
Rukamani had to combat financial uncertainties in her early days after her husband lost his source of income thereby plunging the whole family into utter distress. The bulging responsibilities of managing a family with two children led Rukamni to set up a small kirana shop.
Later on, when Rukmani was introduced to Rajeevika Foundation, she became an integral part of the local level ecosystem. The organisation actively supported livelihood in the rural areas with the help of renewable energy technology. Rajeevika played a significant role in promoting CLFs (Cluster Level Federations) whose members became the future shareholder of Durga Energy Project. Rukmani’s involvement with the project motivated other local women to join.
Rukmani fondly looks back at her days spent in travelling pan India to attend organisational meetings. No matter how extremely tedious the schedule was, Rukmani got the support of her husband all along. “I had to travel in my earlier days and it was difficult for me. “Even now in peak winters, it becomes painful for me to travel from my village to town for work”, she adds. But Rukmani is happy and feels that despite the hardships, she is blessed for the opportunity to earn her daily bread and simultaneously learn new skills.
Dungarpur Solar Initiative Inspired Rukmani to Succeed
IIT-Bombay Professor Chetan Singh Solanki came to Dungarpur and encouraged women’s participation in a project that initially required manufacturing solar lamps. The main motive behind the initiative was to create a local solar ecosystem. Currently, the four CLFs represent around 28,260 women (one woman per household) SHG members at the helm of DURGA Energy. Rukmani confesses about being initially apprehensive of her participation in the job. Rukmani’s deep-seated fear resonated well within the community women since the villagers were entirely oblivious to the functioning of India’s manufacturing sector.
In 2016, Rukmani and her group finally started assembling and selling 20000-22000 solar lamps, and this number slowly skyrocketed to around 40000 lamps successfully sold off. This is when Rukmani was undaunted about taking the Dungarpur initiative to greater heights. “This initiative has made me and my people confident and self reliant”, reminisces Rukmani who is now the CEO of Durga Energy, Dungarpur.
Women in Rural India need Projects like Durga
Rukmani feels the urgent need for more projects like Durga which would help women from financially backward areas to develop skills and become independent. The Durga Project has 55 women working across several districts in Rajasthan. Rukmani herself is a testimonial of victory amidst defeats, and she strongly opines that women should not accept defeat; instead “women should look ahead and march forward to achieve their goals.” She is proud of her children who now look up to her as their inspiration .They are awestruck by Rukmani’s perseverance and courage, unfaltering even when confronted with unanticipated challenges.
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