New Delhi, 22 October, 2026: The Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), a leading FMCG conglomerate and multi-business corporation, has partnered with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to launch the project ‘Powering Barota Towards Net Zero Village.’ The initiative aims to accelerate rooftop solar adoption, promote clean energy and advance sustainable rural development in Barota village, Karnal district, Haryana. It is part of an ongoing holistic Community Development Programme in Barota focusses on education, health, environment and livelihood.
The project aims to facilitate the adoption of on-grid rooftop solar systems across all eligible households in the village, with a planned capacity of at least 3 kW per household. Home to approximately 550 households, Barota presents significant potential for rooftop solar adoption. However, limited awareness, documentation requirements, gaps in technical guidance and upfront financial constraints can make it difficult for rural households to access government-supported solar programmes. The initiative seeks to address these challenges through community awareness, beneficiary mobilisation, documentation support, technical guidance, financial assistance and facilitation of government subsidies.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prabhakant Jain, General Manager, Sustainability and CSR, DS Group, said, “The project Powering Barota Towards Net Zero Village reflects DS Group’s commitment to community-centred, sustainable development. By bringing together corporate social responsibility, technical expertise and government programmes, the initiative seeks to make clean energy more accessible to rural households and support a cleaner, more energy-resilient future.”
Dr Amit Kumar Thakur, Director (Head CSR & Director), TERI said, "Through our partnership with DS Group on the ‘Powering Barota Towards Net Zero‘ initiative, TERI is proud to demonstrate how CSR-led interventions can accelerate India‘s clean energy transition at the grassroots level. By enabling rooftop solar and integrating renewable energy into community infrastructure, Barota is set to become a pioneering model for sustainable rural development. Building on the momentum of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with DS Group across broader ESG outcomes and leveraging these insights to scale impactful solutions nationwide."
By facilitating access to the scheme, the initiative seeks to help eligible families reduce electricity expenses, adopt cleaner energy and contribute to lower carbon emissions. Through this collaboration, DS Group and TERI aim to enable community-led participation in the clean energy transition while demonstrating a practical, village-level approach to renewable energy adoption. The initiative aspires to establish Barota as a replicable model for rural clean energy transition, advancing energy self-reliance, environmental sustainability and India’s broader climate action goals.
The DS Group (Dharampal Satyapal Group) is a one of the leading FMCG conglomerates and a Multi-Business Corporation with a strong Indian and International presence. Founded in the year 1929, it is an inspiring and successful business story that blends a remarkable history and legacy with visionary growth. It has an extensive and diverse portfolio with presence in Food and Beverage, Confectionery, Mouth Freshener, Hospitality, Agri, Luxury Retail businesses, and other investments. Catch, Pulse, Pass Pass, Silver Pearls, Ksheer, Rajnigandha, Ovino, L’Opera, Le Marche, Birthright, LuvIt, Chingles, Golmol, Namah are some of the leading brands, the Group proudly shelters today.
As a corporate, DS Group is guided by a clear set of values that are built on a strong foundation of collective good to give back to society and protect the planet. The DS Headquarters has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, under the USGBC (US Green Building Council) existing building O&M (Operation and Maintenance) program version 4.0. The DS Headquarters has also received LEED Zero Carbon Certification, by the USGBC. DS Group has aligned its financial performance with global ESG priorities with the launch of a pioneering Double Materiality Assessment across all businesses. Further demonstrating its environmental leadership, the DS Group has a water positivity index at 1.8 across its business units in 30 locations of India. For details, log onto www.dsgroup.com.