Shakuntala Hande

Indian social entrepreneur bringing clean energy to rural households

Dr. Shakuntala Hande is a mechanical engineer and co-founder of SELCO India, a social enterprise providing sustainable energy solutions to over 1.5 million people in rural India. Born in 1960 in Karnataka, she pioneered decentralized solar energy systems in the 1990s when most development efforts focused on urban areas. Her work with SELCO since 1995 has enabled lighting, water pumping, and healthcare equipment for marginalized communities through innovative financing models. Featured in BBC and NPR, her approach combines technology with socio-economic understanding to address energy poverty. Hande's initiatives have reduced kerosene use and improved educational outcomes by providing evening lighting. She co-authored the 《Power to the People: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Energy Development》 and serves on UN energy advisory boards. Her work aligns with SDG7 (Affordable Clean Energy) and has inspired similar models in Kenya and Bangladesh through her global advocacy efforts.