Rajkot: Payal Munjpara, a young solar technician from Bharada village in Dhrangadhra taluka of Surendranagar district, has been officially invited to attend the 80th Independence Day celebrations at New Delhi’s historic Red Fort as an honoured ‘special guest.’Selected under Govt of India’s Jan Bhagidari (People’s Participation) initiative, Munjpara will witness Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoist the national flag and address the nation. The honour recognises her extraordinary contribution to clean energy adoption and rural women’s empowerment.Coming from a modest rural background, Munjpara enrolled with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), completing rigorous professional training to qualify as a certified solar PV technician.Mastering the technical intricacies of fitting, wiring, installing, and maintaining solar power systems, Munjpara directly challenged long-standing gender stereotypes in field-heavy technical trades. Beyond her technical work, she has actively trained and mentored local women and girls, equipping them with vocational skills to achieve financial independence through green technology.Her efforts directly align with the nation’s broader “Viksit Bharat @2047” vision, showcasing how skill development and renewable energy can drive gender equality at the village level.Munjpara’s transformative initiative first gained national attention when Modi highlighted her work during the 132nd episode of his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, citing her as an inspiring role model for rural youth.“Now, receiving a special invitation to attend the national ceremony on Aug 15 and be a guest of Rashtrapati Bhavan is something I never imagined,” she said.Her father, Jitendra Munjpara, expressed gratitude to GOI over his daughter’s achievements. “She completed her training and works with immense dedication. Receiving this national invitation is a moment of pride for our entire family.”
