During his recent visit to India, Shah discussed renewable energy advancements in the country, the tech industry's influence on climate objectives, and collaboration with ASHA workers
Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation. Image:Â Amit Verma
India's growth trajectory has been extraordinary, but the disparity in inclusive growth is stark. Almost all the growth is driven by urban areas and key industries—finance, manufacturing, and information technology—leaving rural communities behind in the country's economic transformation, says Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation. For context, 70 percent of India's population resides in rural areas.
The number one constraint to rural development worldwide, particularly in India, is consistent, low-cost access to productive power. The New York-based non-profit organisation, which has operated in India for over a century, has made progress in Rajasthan, deploying 59 mini-grids with over 106 megawatts of power. Each grid helps around 36,000 people. In Maharashtra, they've set up 200 grids and plan to deploy over 5,000 small-scale solar mini-grids.
During his recent visit to India, Shah spoke with Forbes India about the country's progress in renewable energy, the impact of the tech boom on climate goals, working with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, and more. Edited excerpts:
Q. Are you installing these grids free of cost from your foundation?
No. We've worked to design the programmes and help governments implement them. These programmes allow developers, such as Tata Power or local farmers, to build solar installations and sell power on a commercial basis.