Manipur solar entrepreneur’s grassroots work finds mention in Mann Ki Baat

Solar entrepreneur Moirangthem Seth from Manipur has drawn national attention after his efforts to bring off-grid electricity to remote communities were highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 129th edition of Mann Ki Baat.

Seth’s work focuses on addressing chronic power shortages in far-flung parts of Manipur, where access to reliable grid electricity remains uneven despite recent improvements. Having grown up in a region marked by frequent outages, he turned to solar energy as a practical alternative for villages that continue to remain outside dependable power networks.

Over the years, his initiative has enabled solar power access for hundreds of households across interior areas of the state. The intervention has also extended beyond homes, with several health centres adopting solar-based systems, helping ensure uninterrupted basic services in places where electricity supply is fragile or absent.

In the national broadcast, the Prime Minister cited Seth’s initiative as an example of locally driven innovation, underlining how renewable energy solutions can address long-standing infrastructural gaps while supporting healthcare and livelihoods at the grassroots level.

The episode also featured another entrepreneur from Manipur, K Chokhone Krechina of Senapati district, whose work in rural livelihoods and women-led initiatives was acknowledged. Her inclusion underscored the broader role of grassroots entrepreneurship in employment generation and sustainable development, particularly in rural and agrarian regions.

Together, the mentions highlighted Manipur’s emerging profile in community-led innovation, with local entrepreneurs using context-specific solutions to tackle development challenges from the ground up.