Apraava Energy, India’s leading integrated energy solutions provider, partnered with CII Foundation, a leading non-profit fostering inclusive development pan India, to honour 15 women changemakers from Assam. These women leaders have uplifted over 1000 women from disadvantaged communities in the state. Under the ‘Empowering Champions of Change’ initiative led by Apraava Smart Meter Private Limited, a subsidiary of Apraava Energy, these women were recognized for their contribution in bringing grassroots-level transformation to society.
The women leaders hail from eight districts of Assam, namely, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, and South Salmara Mankachar. Their area of work includes addressing issues pertaining to domestic violence, livelihoods, re-enrollment of school dropouts, adult literacy, and more. This group of women will now receive training to enhance their leadership skills and lead district-level community projects aimed at addressing socio-economic inequalities. Together, they aspire to impact over 15,000 women from the marginalised communities of Assam, in the next year.
Commenting on the initiative, Rajiv Kumar, Senior Vice President – AMI, Apraava Energy, said, “The primary objective of this program is to recognize and empower women leaders who, despite numerous challenges, remain unstoppable in their efforts to improve the lives of marginalized women in Assam. While we are actively promoting the adoption of sustainable energy solutions in the state through smart meters, our efforts are also focused on holistic development of communities in the region. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) and CII for their support in this endeavour.”
Bijaya Boro, General Manager – Bongaigaon Zone (Kokrajhar EC, Barpeta EC and Bongaigaon EC), APDCL, along with Mr. Rubul Nath, CEO, Kokrajhar EC and dignitaries from Apraava Energy, presented the laurels to the women leaders. While extending her congratulations on the program, Bijaya, said, “This initiative serves as a powerful platform that will ignite women-led transformation in Assam. I commend Apraava Smart Meter Private Limited and CII for spearheading this much-needed endeavor, which will motivate and inspire women across the state. My best wishes to the 15 women champions as they continue to be catalysts of change for society.”
Apraava currently operates ~254 kms, Kohima Mariani Transmission Ltd. (KMTL) interstate transmission project in Assam. The company is also implementing Advanced Metering Infrastructure in the Bongaigaon EC and Kokrajhar EC that will enable the supply and monitoring of reliable energy to almost 7 lakh customers of APDCL. Apraava’s smart meter project in Assam is India’s first to ‘Go-Live’ under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) rolled out by the Central Government.
As part of its community investment initiatives, Apraava, in collaboration with The Akshaya Patra Foundation, has set up a centralized mid-day meal kitchen that serves nutritious meals to children daily in government schools in Jorhat, Assam.
About CII Foundation
The CII Foundation was set up by CII in 2011 to undertake a wide range of developmental and charitable activities and initiatives pan India by enabling industry for infusing inclusive development. CII Foundation works towards inclusive development by providing a meaningful bridge between marginalised communities and donors, especially corporates through strategic guidance on CSR and developing and managing high impact programmes. Over the last years, the CII Foundation has undertaken various projects with corporate sector support in the areas of woman leadership development, early childhood care and education, climate change and sustainability, disaster relief and rehabilitation etc.
About Apraava Energy
Apraava Energy is India’s leading integrated energy solutions provider head quartered in Mumbai. It is jointly owned by the CLP Group —one of the largest investor-owned power businesses in Asia and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) —a global investment group.
Founded in 2002, Apraava has evolved from being a single-asset business to a forward looking, climate-conscious organisation. Its portfolio comprises 3,287 MW of installed capacity which includes 1062 MW of wind and 250 MW of solar energy projects, a 1320 MW coal-fired super critical power plant and two power transmission assets (~494 kms), all spread across 11 states. In addition, two greenfield transmission projects (~252 kms), two wind projects (413.4 MW) and one solar project (250 MW) are under construction. The company has also forayed into Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) business and is executing orders of ~3 million smart meters in Assam and Gujarat.
Apraava Energy is among the handful of Indian power sector companies to commit to the SBTi and only the second in the sector to have them validated.
Going ahead, the company will only invest in low-carbon growth areas, including renewable energy, power transmission and distribution, as well as other non-generation, customer-focused energy businesses.
