Innovative Sustainable Development Center in Indore Sets a New Standard

A Model for Sustainable Living

Indore, March 31, 2026: In a world where sustainability is frequently discussed yet rarely exemplified, the Jimmy Magilligan Center for Sustainable Development in Sanawadiya village near Indore stands out as a vibrant model.

Recently, students from the M.Tech program in Renewable Energy Engineering and Management at the TERI School of Advanced Studies in Delhi visited this center. Under the guidance of Padma Shri awardee Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan, the center showcases a unique approach to making sustainable living simple, practical, and effective.

Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan, a dedicated social worker and educator, has devoted over four decades to empowering rural and tribal communities, particularly women. She is also the founder of the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women, which has transformed the lives of thousands of women across India through social change.

The center, which is Dr. Magilligan's home 'Giridarshan', has been transformed into a fully sustainable living demonstration site. Everything here is eco-friendly, featuring a solar-powered kitchen (with a parabolic solar cooker and a 2.7-meter diameter Scheffler dish), a 2-kilowatt hybrid renewable energy system, water management practices, organic farming, zero waste processes, and the use of natural resources like reetha and giloy. To date, over 186,350 individuals have been trained at the center.

Students experienced 'hands-on learning' and witnessed how easy and effective it is to cook daily meals using solar energy. The theories learned in the classroom came to life here, leading students to realize that sustainable development is not an expensive or difficult endeavor, but rather achievable through small, conscious choices in daily life.

The center places a strong emphasis on empowering women. By adopting solar cooking, women can reduce their reliance on LPG, decrease indoor air pollution, and earn additional income through clean energy-based small enterprises.

Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan's famous quote encapsulates the essence of this center: 'We cannot choose how we die, but we can choose how we live.'

Prashita Dighe, a student who prepared a report during the visit, remarked that the experience was not just academic but life-changing. Students understood that true sustainability extends beyond textbooks; it is a practical way of living.

This center also demonstrates that rural areas, even those far from the main electricity grid, can achieve self-sufficiency through decentralized clean energy solutions, playing a crucial role in India's goal of reaching 'net zero'.