A unique initiative started by the government is helping women from as far as Latin America and Africa light up their lives and homes. Barefoot Solar Engineers, a government initiative, teaches semi-literate and illiterate rural poor women to harness solar energy through the construction of photovoltaic systems and solar-powered lanterns.

The women are being trained under the ministry of external affairs' very successful Solar Engineer Plan as part of its India Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme at Rajasthan’s Tilonia. The Barefoot College, a grassroots movement , was adopted as a training institute in 2008.