Background

In different states across India, there has been a sudden surge in the demand for electricity. As a result, people find themselves grappling with hours of power outages in a single day. This marks the most significant electricity shortage we've seen in over six years, and it all boils down to a critical shortage of coal supply to thermal power plants, driven by the relentless heatwave. Recent studies reveal that over half of the country's households are facing frequent power interruptions. Shockingly, a third of them deal with daily power losses that drag on for over two hours.

In underserved communities, predominantly situated in low-income areas, the situation is much worse. With already scarce access to electricity and all-too-common blackouts due to erratic power supplies, their daily lives are severely affected. The struggle with electricity supply also takes a heavy toll on the education of children in these areas. With limited access to proper lighting and no consistent internet connection, studying is often impaired. 

The majority in these underserved communities often lack reliable, accurate information on energy and sustainability. This lack of knowledge can be traced back to their schools, which often miss out on introducing students to the fascinating world of energy and physics, knowledge that could help them understand everyday phenomena, like the power shortages they experience daily. A lack of access to this information is not only a barrier to understanding global energy problems but can also dampen their interest in engaging with and pursuing STEM subjects.