About EEWA
SwitchON Foundation through its EEWA programme aims to empower marginalised rural communities and address climate change at the grassroots level.
EEWA promotes adoption of renewable energy, organic farming, and regenerative agriculture to foster sustainable development within rural communities.
It collaborates with government departments, a diverse array of organisations, and non-governmental entities to engage in a comprehensive approach towards addressing climate change and its associated challenges. This extends beyond mere awareness-building, encompassing policy alignment, resource pooling, and community empowerment.
Key Initiatives
Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE)
The transition to clean energy is a vital endeavour in our efforts to address environmental challenges.
01. Promotion of Solar Pumps
SwitchON empowers farmers by simplifying solar pump adoption, offering subsidy and financing support, and ensuring seamless installation and maintenance, making it economically viable for them.
02. DRE Technology for Livelihoods
We identify adoption clusters, educate farmers, collaborate with energy agencies, and empower communities with renewable energy skills, all while promoting solar machinery for agricultural entrepreneurship.
Sustainable Water Conservation & Management
Water, essential for life, is central to our sustainable future, particularly in agriculture, demanding careful management and conservation to address critical environmental challenges.
01. Micro- Irrigation
Promoting micro-irrigation in agriculture, the focus is on empowering farmers to implement drip and sprinkler systems, enhancing crop productivity, conserving water resources, and fostering sustainable farming practices.
02. Women-led Community Groundwater Management
Women's Self Help Groups are provided with technical skills to monitor groundwater levels, fostering local community engagement for sustainable water management through participatory monitoring and watershed development in multiple states.
FPO & Agri-Allied Enterprises
To ensure the sustainability of agriculture, we foster innovation and collaboration, recognizing the need for a multifaceted approach within the agricultural sector.
01. Farmer Producer Organisations
Collaborating with government-approved agencies, we've facilitated 59 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) across East, North East, and Western India, empowering farmers through institutional development, training, market access, and resource linkage for a sustainable and equitable agricultural landscape.
02. Women-Led Enterprises & Integrated Farming Cluster
Fostering clean energy entrepreneurship for SHG women and providing training to agripreneurs for economic growth.
Sustainable Agriculture & Promotion of Climate-Resilient Crops
Promoting agricultural sustainability among marginal farmers, ensuring food security and economic resilience through training and partnerships.
01. Spices & Kitchen Garden
Cultivating organic kitchen gardens empowers marginal farmers with vital skills, ensuring food security, economic resilience, and sustainable agriculture practices.
02. Millets & Indigenous Rice
Farmers in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand are encouraged to cultivate millets, to enhance income and food security. This initiative includes market linkages for sustainability.
Skills & Just Transition
Enabling communities for a sustainable, self-reliant, and inclusive transition to a greener economy through clean energy training and skill development.
01. Capacity Building of Financial Institutions
CollaboratIon with financial institutions to boost solar pump adoption among farmers, to enhance their access to financing through government schemes.
02. Clean Energy Training for Green jobs & Entrepreneurship
Addressing unemployment, skill gaps, and economic disparities through clean energy training for youth, women, farmers, fostering self-reliance and inclusive development.
Key Partners
Success Stories
Sadanand Dih, Sarwan, Deoghar
“Savita and her family had been using diesel pumps for the past 5 years and electric pumps for the last 2 years to carry out irrigation. However, they encountered several difficulties while using both electric pump and diesel pump. She received solar pump from JREDA under the PM KUSUM scheme, with 90% subsidy (from central and state government) and 10% self-financing with which Savita has been irrigating her fields.”
“This independence has increased my decision-making authority in the household. With Solar Usage, My Sons Can Now Get Educated and Take White Collar Jobs”
Garbeta, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal
“We got an alternative way of earning for women in our village. Now we are able to earn something which helps us to cover our children’s education & small savings for the future.”
🗒 Local cashew farmers at Garbeta found a better way to earn for their livelihood
Debra, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal
“After installing solar pumps I can support a few farmers with excess amount of water as well. Electricity bills have been reduced by almost 70%.”
🗒 Organic farming with solar pumps, drip irrigation can be profitable & sustainable.