Mission URJA- Village Edition

First-time electricity access for India’s most remote tribal villages through decentralised solar and hydro systems.

Partner with us

Dashboard

What We’ve Powered

Goal: 100 villages by 2028 | 34 electrified so far”

+Gwh
Renewable Energy Generated
+
Electrification of Trible Hut’s
+
Generated Carbon Credits
+
Electrified Tribal Hamlets
+
Installed Solar Street Light
%
Reduction of Animal Attacks
+
Carbon Neutral Individual

Darkness Was Their Normal

For many remote tribal communities across Maharashtra and other underserved regions, sunset meant shutdown. After dusk, life would come to a halt — homes went dark, movement stopped, work ceased, and children were left without light to study or even feel safe.

These were not temporary power cuts — these were villages and hamlets that had never been electrified. No streetlights. No indoor bulbs. No phone charging. No night farming. In many cases, even the idea of electricity was unfamiliar.

Women feared walking outside after evening hours due to wildlife threats. Students struggled with kerosene fumes or studied by firelight. Elderly and differently-abled residents remained isolated. Productivity and safety were confined to daylight — as if progress had a curfew.

This was not a lack of willingness to change — it was a lack of access, a gap in the system, a region left behind by the grid. And so, darkness became normal.

Countdown to 100 Villages by 2028

Tracking our journey to power 100 tribal villages with dignity by 2028

–
DAYS
–
HOURS
–
MINUTES
–
SECONDS

Power Where It’s Needed Most

Mission URJA – Village Edition is TREEI’s answer to a systemic problem: entire tribal communities left in the dark, not just by night, but by infrastructure. Our model brings first-time, permanent electricity to such villages using a decentralised, community-led approach rooted in local context, dignity, and long-term sustainability.

We begin with field identification of hamlets and villages that have never received electricity. These are often remote, forested regions disconnected from the national grid, where sunset means fear, halted mobility, and lost opportunity. Through detailed surveys and direct engagement, we map out not only the physical layout, but also the emotional geography of night-time challenges — what spaces must be lit first, and why.
TREEI doesn’t impose a solution. We co-create it with the community. Together, we design a tailored energy plan — whether it’s solar microgrids, standalone units, or micro-hydro systems — based on terrain, density, and usage needs. Our systems are low-maintenance, grid-free, and designed to endure harsh terrain, heavy rainfall, and isolated conditions.

What makes the model truly resilient is what happens next: TREEI facilitates the formation of a Village Energy Samiti — a local governance body responsible for oversight, coordination, and decision-making around the installed system. We also introduce a minimal monthly contribution system (in the form of user fees or pooled community funds), enabling a community-owned revenue stream that covers minor repairs, battery replacement, and system upkeep.

Simultaneously, we train local youth and women to handle basic maintenance and troubleshooting, ensuring that the community is never left powerless — literally or figuratively. Our teams remain connected even after implementation through regular audits, follow-ups, and impact assessments, while the Samiti takes increasing ownership of daily system use.

This model is not just an intervention — it’s a blueprint. Each URJA village becomes a live example of how decentralised energy can be community-managed, self-funded, and replicable across underserved geographies.

Dashboard

Identification & Community Co-Design

“Lighting should begin where it’s needed most — and defined by those who need it.”

Targeting energy-dark tribal villages through surveys, referrals, and local knowledge.

Need mapping of vulnerable areas: walkways, homes, schools, water sources.
Deep community engagement to co-design lighting priorities and placement.

Building trust through transparent dialogue — from planning to placement.

Terrain-Based, Decentralised Energy Systems

“No grid? No problem. We bring power that adapts to terrain, not the other way around.”

Installation of solar microgrids, standalone pole-mounted units, or hydro units.

Engineering designed for low-maintenance, off-grid, high-durability performance.

Customised system design based on geography, density, and risk zones.

Nighttime safety, productivity, and mobility restored — permanently.

Local Ownership & Revenue Model

“Electrification without ownership is just another dependency.”

Formation of Village Energy Samiti — a trained, local governance body.

Capacity building for system maintenance, troubleshooting, and reporting.

Introduction of community contribution model (user fees, pooled funds).

Ensures self-sustaining repairs, battery replacements, and system upkeep.

From consumer to steward — the community owns its light.

Long-Term Monitoring & Scalability

“We don’t light villages. We light systems that last.”

Routine impact tracking, usage audits, and support visits.

Stories and data from the ground to guide scale.

Real-time feedback integrated into next-phase designs.

Model ready to replicate across 100+ villages by 2028.

Powered by partnerships. Sustained by people.

Three Generations in Darkness – Until Now!

“I was born in this village. So was my father. And my grandfather. We’ve lived here for over 80 years — but never once had electricity. We relied on oil lamps and the moon. We thought maybe this is just how it will always be. But now, seeing lights turn on at sunset… it feels like time has finally moved forward for us. For the first time, I feel like my grandchildren won’t have to grow up in the same darkness we did.”

— Raghunath Jadhav, 72, Maale Hamlet

I Lost My Child to the Dark

“Five years ago, I lost my child in a leopard attack right outside our home. It was just after dusk — pitch dark — we couldn’t even see what was happening until it was too late. That night changed everything for me. I often wondered, ‘What if we had light?’ Maybe things would’ve been different. That pain never goes away. But now, with Mission URJA bringing light to our village, I know other mothers might be spared what I went through. That gives me peace.”

— Mangal Tai, Valnai Hamlet

From Fear After Sunset to Freedom After Dark

“We used to call it ‘the invisible jail.’ After 7 pm, women like me wouldn’t dare step out of our houses. Not even to the toilet. Every sound felt like a threat — animals, strangers, anything. We had no light, no safety. But now, with solar lights installed through Mission URJA, our village breathes easier after sunset. Children play outside, women walk freely, and we’ve even started stitching work in the evenings. It’s not just light — it’s freedom.”

— Kallami Gayakwad, Resident of Sondi Village

My Daughter Can Finally Dream with the Lights On

“My daughter always wanted to be a teacher, but how could she study in the dark? We had one kerosene lamp for the whole house — and it filled the room with smoke. I used to watch her struggle to read, eyes burning. Now, with solar lights in every home, she reads until bedtime without worry. My son helps with evening chores under streetlights. I never imagined our children would grow up in a lit home. Mission URJA gave them more than electricity — it gave them a fair chance.”

— Gyaneshwar Pawar, Kashing Hamlet

The Night No Longer Ends My Day

“Before we had electricity, our day would end with the sunset. Once it got dark, there was nothing more we could do — no work, no movement, no gatherings. We lived by habit, not by choice. Now, after Mission URJA brought light to our village, everything has shifted. I help neighbours fix small items, I’ve joined evening meetings, and we’ve even started planning night-time farming tasks. Electricity didn’t just light our homes — it brought time back into our lives.”

:-Sanju Jadhav, Disli Hamlet

As Featured in The Better India

TREEI Foundation’s work on delivering portable solar energy systems to tribal families under Mission URJA – Village Edition was recently featured by The Better India, a leading platform spotlighting grassroots innovation across the country. The feature highlights our decentralised model, real-world implementation in remote regions, and how community-led clean energy is restoring safety, dignity, and mobility in villages left off the grid.

“This system is not just lighting homes — it’s changing how people live after sunset.”
— The Better India, June 2024

Read More

Our Impact Partners

No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption

Invest in Resilience

From forgotten communities to unstoppable futures — it starts with you.

Become a Partner
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
No Caption
“A revolution has begun. The communities TREEI works with are becoming more self-aware and invested in their own development, thanks to the team’s thoughtful mentorship and inclusive approach.”
Sandra MollanHR at Netcracker Technology
“Projects like Mission URJA and Eklavya reflect a 360-degree approach to development. TREEI is delivering real change where it’s needed the most.”
Achintya GhoshOperations Director at Artemyn India
“TREEI’s projects are highly replicable. Their grounded model — combining technical innovation with sustainable ownership — makes them truly effective.”
Natrajan RFinance Director at Artemyn India
“TREEI’s model of sustainable innovation is deeply aligned with community needs. Their tech-first, youth-led approach brings both relevance and long-term energy to their work.”
Utsavi DeepakESG Head Calderys India
“Team TREEI has the potential to create national-level sustainable impact. Their ability to integrate technology into solving real-world social challenges is exactly the kind of innovation India needs.”
Prasanna KarandikarHUB Director at Imerys
“Mission URJA brought electricity to places it had never reached — a historic milestone. The grassroots impact of TREEI is not only deep but also built to last.”
Abhijit PatilIndia Admin Director at Netcracker Technology
“The Third Wheel and Mission URJA show what’s possible when community, CSR, and technology come together. TREEI is driving change that empowers people to help themselves.”
Rajesh ChintaluriGlobal ESG Head at Imerys