Great idea in India

That’s really good thinking but isn’t it a bit manual for grannies to be doing I can only imagine there would be heavy panels etc

Women in India of all ages do much more manual work than in the UK and are expected to work in the fields or on building sites with children running alongside.
Building solar panels would be light work for them, they don’t get a choice if they don’t work the children don’t get fed.

They don't have to be literate for this project either. It's all explained verbally and with colour coding. The organiser said that just because someone hadn't had the chance to learn to read and write doesn't mean they are unintelligent.

I imagine that by ‘grannies’ they mean women with non-dependent children, ie women aged mid 30s plus

Not just across India, many other countries too, it started in 2006, they also have sewing and beekeeping classes.Great to see.

Here's a link:

www.worldwildlife.org/stories/madagascar-s-solar-grandmothers-lead-a-renewable-revolution

any project that enables women to be self supportive is valuable and life enhancing for them, keeping them independent and this one helps their community too. winwin

I am astounded - and intrigued.
When we had our solar panels fitted it required scaffolding and even the inside electrical work required nimble access to the far recessed of our loft.
They are extremely heavy and difficult to move too - so all respect, Grannies of India! It puts knitting Shreddies in the shade (no pun intended)

They do mean Grannies! Not all solar panels are huge things that have to be heaved on to roofs. The ones in the photographs don't look massive. I don't suppose there's such shortage of sun in India that they have to be large.

They are ‘dubbed’ The Solar Grandmothers’.
The article mentions ‘women’, not their age or child production status

The article I read in the Oldie stated that the originator of the 'Barefoot College Tilonia', a man called Bunker Roy, insists that the women be grandmothers!

Bunker Roy! What a name!
Thanks Aveline.
I take The Oldie, at the recommendation of Rufus, I’ll make sure that I read it

I don’t know why some of the poor countries with sunny weather dont do this more often. I have mentioned it a few times while on holiday. It’s a winner, but no one was interested.

silverlining48

I don’t know why some of the poor countries with sunny weather dont do this more often. I have mentioned it a few times while on holiday. It’s a winner, but no one was interested.

They don’t have the money to buy solar panels or batteries, food, clothes, school fees come first. In any case the men control where the money gets spent

Very short sighted men!