The barefoot solar engineers

The barefoot solar engineers, Talsa Miniaka, Pulka Wadeka, Minakshi Diwan, and Bundei Hidreka, live in Tinginapu, in the Eastern Ghats of Orissa. They now have a contract to build 3000 solar-powered lanterns for schools and other institutions and they are training other people in the community. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

Engineer Pulka Wadeka teaches others how to make a solar lamp. Photograph: DFID/Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

20-year-old solar engineer Meenakshi Dewan is part of the team building the 3,000 lamps. Photograph: DFID/Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

Minakshi Diwan, 20, carrying out maintenance works in the village. Photograph: DFID/Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

Rohim Miniaka, 20, is being trained in solar engineering and taught how to make solar lamps by the barefoot solar engineers association. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

6-year-old Timo and her friends can now study after dark and do not have to use dangerous kerosene lamps. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

Site Wadeka, 28, is very happy to have the solar light in her village now. She makes brooms which are sold locally. Photograph: Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

Men return from working in the fields to meet their wives who have been at a training course run by the barefoot solar engineers in the rural workshop. Photograph: DFID/Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR

Thanks to the solar lanterns made by the villagers, the women can now work after dark in their homes and have formed a self-help group which meets to discuss the issues facing women in the area. Photograph: DFID/Abbie Trayler-Smith/PR