Bihar Woman Starts Solar Irrigation Business Following Family Tragedy

Ladli Khatoon from Bahwanpur, Ghoncha village in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, has established a solar-powered irrigation enterprise supplying water to between 35 and 38 farmers, according to a report by The Times of India.

Background and Personal Loss

Previously, Ladli’s family relied on her husband’s income as an autorickshaw driver to support six family members across 1.5 acres of agricultural land. The family experienced a major tragedy when their son suffered a fatal electric shock while helping irrigate their crops.

Entering the Solar Initiative

Following the incident, Ladli learned about a solar irrigation initiative through JEEViKA, Bihar’s rural livelihoods programme, via her associations with the Muskan Self-Help Group, the Dharti Mata Village Organisation, and the Phoolmala Cluster Level Federation.

To establish the irrigation system, which cost Rs 4,92,275, Ladli invested Rs 1,79,420 and secured a loan of Rs 1,25,000 from Rang De, a social lending organisation. Her solar setup includes a five-horsepower solar pump, solar panels, a borewell, a pipeline, and a pump house. Through this venture, she has earned around Rs 1 lakh.

Broader Rural Impact

According to a YourStory report cited in the coverage, the broader initiative—supported by JEEViKA, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India), and the Gates Foundation—involved 189 women across 12 panchayats running similar solar irrigation enterprises, benefiting over 3,200 farmers.

Other women in nearby villages, including Anu Devi, Sita Devi, and Indu Devi, have also launched solar irrigation businesses, overcoming financial hurdles and social barriers to support their families and fund children's education.

How to Verify

Original details regarding this initiative and individual entrepreneurial journeys can be verified through reports published by The Times of India and YourStory, as well as documentation from JEEViKA and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Bihar.