Gram Oorja was established on 24th April, 2008 by 4 young entrepreneurs, who realised that sustainable energy in its various forms would become even more mainstream and would have an increasingly significant role to play in the rural context. Thus, during its initial years, Gram Oorja experimented with various aspects of renewable energy solutions in diverse parts of rural India, garnering, in the process, (a) understanding and experience of renewable energy technologies like solar and biogas, (b) experience of what would work and what would not, (c) a strong grassroots network in the rural heartland of India and (d) recognition among various government and non-government NGOs, universities in India and abroad (MNRE, ORF, Prayas Energy Group, GIZ, Princeton, Berkeley, to name a few). The core principle of all projects implemented or designed till now have been (a) sustainability of the projects and (b) captive use of the energy by the institution or community.

Energy is all around us in super-abundant quantities. Man's need for energy on tap is also growing. All that is required is the enabling of natural energy into forms that man can use. Gram Oorja is that enabler. Our philosophy is to provide sustainable energy to rural communities through our paradigms and systems in a manner that will allow these to run for decades

Hence our philosophy is similar to Lord Krishna's exhortation to Arjun, as explained in the Bhagwad Gita "Be only an instrument"

• Education

•  Electrification of rural schools enables computer usage and science laboratories
•  Longer study hours for students after dark

• Health

•  Electrification of health centres allows them to use modern equipment and cold storage
•  Filtered drinking water plants to mitigate water borne diseases
•  Reduction in smoke related diseases due to firewood based cooking

• Environment

•  Reduced dependency on forest firewood.
•  Nominal harmful greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of renewable energy.

• Livelihood generation

•  Irrigation for a second crop in many tribal areas
•  Milk chillers and other conversion of raw material into more remunerative products

• Women empowerment

•  Cleaner, healthier and less cumbersome cooking systems with bio-gas
•  Saves time, energy and money spent in getting firewood and kerosene
•  Increases time for family and for productive cottage industries

• Entertainment and Communication

•  TVs and mobiles allow people to be connected

To achieve social good under a commercial framework, delivered with highest levels of ethics, integrity and professionalism

To focus on and act as a catalyst in commercializing on-the-ground viable renewable energy solutions for the rural sector and small-scale applications

It believes that rural energy needs can be fulfilled from local resources. This will lower the dependence of rural India on the large centralized power systems making them self sufficient with respect to their own electricity needs.

Market interaction across India - villages, plantations, ashrams, businesses, etc. enabled by relationships with grassroots networks in these areass

Team of employees and consultants - people familiar with end to end process from surveys , project execution to operations and maintenance

Willingness to work in geographically difficult markets

Relationships with key stakeholders - NGOs/Government bodies such as MNRE, IREDA, NABARD etc

Design and implementation capabilities in different renewable technologies suitable for off-grid solutions especially solar PV and bio-gas

Sameer Nair is a co-founder and Director of the company and is primarily responsible for the finance and strategy functions. Sameer has a Post-Graduation in Management from IIM, Bengaluru and had more than 10 years of experience with banks, software and consulting firms before co-founding Gram Oorja.

Anshuman Lath is a co-founder and Director of the company and is primarily responsible for partnerships and team building functions. Anshuman has a Post-Graduation in Management from IIM, Bengaluru and an engineering degree from IIT, Roorkee. He had more than 10 years of experience with SMEs, tribal education organisations and investment banking before co-founding Gram Oorja.

Prasad Kulkarni is a co-founder and the head of Technology for the Company. Prasad has an M. Tech in Energy Systems and had worked in the field of energy conservation and audit before co-founding Gram Oorja.

Sumeet Sutar has been with the company since 2011 and is a Mechanical engineer with a focus on design, supply chain and documentation.

Kiran Auti has been with Gram Oorja since 2011 and is a Mechanical engineer with a focus on project implementation and training. He also manages one large project area for the company.

Ashish Kumar Singh is an electrical engineer and has been working with Gram Oorja since 2013. He focusses on project implementation and technology innovation. Ashish manages projects in Eastern India.

Shreyas Bhalerao is an engineer and has been with Gram Oorja since 2015. Shreyas manages projects in Central India and focuses on implementation and outreach.

Anant Kawade is an M. Tech in Heat Power Engineering and is overall responsible for the biogas technology projects and on team building. Anant has prior experience in biogas technology and in teaching.

Rahul Karekar focuses on bio-gas projects implementation and on logistics support for ongoing projects.

Ashish Kulkarni is an engineer with prior experience in renewable technologies. Ashish focuses on biogas projects at Gram Oorja.

Shubham Shekhar is an engineer and focuses on rural electrification project execution in Eastern India.

Mandar Vaidya handles administration issues at the Company.

Advisors

Sudhindra Nath Chatterjee has over three decades of global experience in software was earlier involved in the CSR activities of a large multinational.

Ganesh Shenoy has around three decades of experience in rural development and related activity across the country. He advises the company on social sector relationships.

Chandra Ongole has worked in technology firms for over twenty-five years and advises Gram Oorja on outreach activities.