by Mamta Borgoyary
Breaking the Cycle of Gendered Energy Poverty
In the blistering desert of the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) in Gujarat, over 43,000 agariya (salt farming) families work under extreme conditions to produce nearly three-quarters of India’s salt. For generations, this vast white landscape—flooded by seawater and later transformed into salt pans—has symbolized both labor and loss.
But behind the glistening white fields lies a deeper story: one of persistent energy poverty, chronic income insecurity, and gendered exploitation—with women bearing the heaviest burdens.
The True Cost of Salt: Diesel, Debt, and Drudgery
Salt production in LRK depends heavily on diesel-powered pumps to extract brine. Diesel must be hauled into the desert, often over long distances, consuming over 40% of an agariya family’s annual income.
Women not only contribute to salt production but also manage household chores, procure diesel, gather firewood, and care for children—all while working under harsh and hazardous conditions. By 2001, women were spending 30–40% of their time and income managing energy needs.
The result? A cycle of high costs, low savings, and no room to escape generational poverty.
Gendered Vulnerability and Structural Exclusion
SEWA’s work in the Surendranagar district since the 1990s reveals a layered reality:
- Limited financial decision-making power makes women vulnerable to exploitative advance loan systems controlled by traders.
- With the collapse of cooperatives and absence of protective frameworks, women are increasingly isolated from formal markets.
- Health risks from diesel fumes, physical labor, and lack of medical services contribute to chronic illness.
- Children’s education—especially girls’—is disrupted as entire families migrate to the salt pans for months.
A Just Energy Transition: From Diesel to Solar
To address these intersecting challenges, SEWA and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) partnered to transition women salt workers from diesel to solar and solar-hybrid water pumps.
Through technical training and community-led adoption, women were empowered to operate and maintain solar pumps—reducing fuel dependency, lowering costs, and lightening their daily workload.
However, solar technology remains unaffordable for most. With pumps costing between INR 2.5–3.5 lakhs, and women lacking access to credit or financial instruments, wider adoption has been constrained.
Monetizing Women’s Gains Through Carbon Markets
Now, a transformative collaboration between WOCAN, CGAP FSIC (Financial Services for Inclusive Carbon markets) and VNV is taking this model to the next level.
Using the W+ Standard, the project will measure and monetize the benefits experienced by 1,200 SEWA women—including increased income and knowledge and skills gained. These outcomes will be translated into W+ credits, creating a mechanism for channeling climate finance directly to women on the frontlines of climate vulnerability.
From Survivors to Climate Leaders
This isn’t just about clean energy—it’s about reclaiming power and dignity. By valuing the labor, resilience, and knowledge of women salt workers, the project lays the groundwork for a regenerative and equitable ocean economy—one that includes women as decision-makers, earners, and environmental stewards.
In the blazing salt desert of LRK, solar energy is doing more than replacing diesel. It’s reshaping futures, redistributing power, and recognizing women as agents of climate justice. For details on how the W+ Standard is unlocking climate finance for women, or to support solar transition efforts, please visit W+Standard