Karnataka has become the first Indian state to install solar power units in 3,600 government health centres within a year. This move helps save 80% to 85% on electricity bills, officials said. The effort is part of the ‘Saura Swasthya’ scheme and supported by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and SELCO Foundation. Since November 2024, about 3,000 health centres have been solarised, with more than 1,150 fully powered by solar. Installation is on-going at around 1,300 sub-centres, aiming to cover 3,700 centres by the end of 2025. Officials plan to solarise 5,000 health facilities by 2026, including sub-centres, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Urban PHCs, Community Health Centres (CHCs), and taluk hospitals. Small rooftop solar units of 0.25 to 1 kW power sub-centres. PHCs get 4 to 5 kW units, while taluk hospitals have systems up to 10 kW. The ₹120 crore project has saved more than three megawatts of power so far and cut electricity bills by up to 70%. It could save around ₹50 lakh monthly, totaling over ₹100 crore in 10 years, by reducing reliance on grid power and diesel generators. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told The Hindu, “The project will help strengthen healthcare delivery in rural pockets. Saura Swasthya will not only ensure uninterrupted healthcare services but also lead to immense savings in electricity bills.” To keep solar systems working well, SELCO Foundation uses Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) for real-time tracking and preventive maintenance. A mobile app, ‘Saura e-Mitra,’ helps medical staff report issues quickly. So far, 626 complaints were logged and 314 resolved. Over 2,000 people have been trained to maintain these systems. SELCO Foundation director Huda Jaffer said Karnataka is the first state to open a Solar O&M Learning Centre for health setups. Located in Raichur, it builds local technical skills for long-term maintenance. He added, “This initiative is reducing electricity costs, lowering CO₂ emissions, and strengthening uninterrupted healthcare services for last-mile communities.”