Document Type
Article
Publication Date
January 2015
Journal
Feminist Economics
Abstract
This paper identifies opportunities and constraints that low-income womenface in accessing livelihoods in the renewable-energy sector in India throughqualitative and quantitative research conducted in collaboration with TheEnergy Resources Institute (TERI) and the Self Employed Women’s Association(SEWA) in 2012–13. Whereas previous research has focused on women mostlyas end users of solar and biomass technologies, this research attempts alsoto understand women’s potential as entrepreneurs, facilitators, designers, andinnovators. Findings reveal that although access to technology and employmentin the energy sector is limited by inadequate purchasing power and low socialstatus, there is tremendous potential to create livelihoods for women at all levelsof the energy supply chain. Broader findings indicate that women can gainoptimal traction from employment in the energy sector only if there are widersocially progressive policies in place, including state intervention to create arobust social welfare infrastructure and accessible, high-quality, public services.
