ToR - Solarizing Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) in Karnataka

ToR - Solarizing Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) in Karnataka

Organization: SELCO Foundation

Apply By: 05 Sep 2026

About SELCO Foundation

SELCO Foundation's mission is to create a platform of solutions that uses sustainable energy as a catalyst to bridge environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation. With holistic development as the primary focus, the organization strives to create equitable societies, where services are accessed by all communities. The interventions of SELCO lead to a sustainable delivery model of essential services like livelihoods, education, and health till the last mile. (Read more about SELCO here: http://www.selcofoundation.org/)

About the Programme

Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) are the frontline farmer-facing institutions of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka. Established under the Raitha Mitra Yojane, RSKs were set up at the rate of one per hobli — approximately 747 centres across the State — and function as single-window farmer contact centres. They deliver certified seeds and critical inputs, soil and seed testing, agro-advisory and extension services, farm mechanisation support, weather and market information, and act as the delivery counter for a wide range of central and state schemes (PM-KISAN, crop insurance, soil health cards, crop survey, FRUITS/farmer registration, input subsidy and DBT services). Over the last decade, the service load at RSKs has shifted decisively towards digital and equipment-dependent delivery: online registrations, biometric authentication, printing and scanning, data entry against tight seasonal deadlines, soil-testing instrumentation, and in some locations cold storage for bio-inputs and bio-fertilisers. This shift has made reliable electricity a precondition for service delivery. Many RSKs, however, are located in rural hoblis that experience scheduled load shedding, long unscheduled outages during monsoon and peak agricultural seasons, and poor voltage quality. The consequences are concrete: farmers travel to a centre and are turned away or asked to return; registration deadlines are missed; instruments and computers suffer damage; staff resort to diesel gensets or personal devices; and thermal discomfort during summer reduces both staff productivity and farmer waiting comfort.

Objective

Overall objective: To enable reliable, affordable and climate-resilient energy access at Raitha Samparka Kendras across Karnataka, so that farmer-facing services are delivered without interruption, and to create a costed, government-ready pathway for state-wide solarisation of RSKs.

Specific objectives:

- Establish a verified, geo-referenced master database of all RSKs in Karnataka, covering ownership and tenure status, building typology, roof and site characteristics, electricity connection details, load profile, appliance inventory and reliability of supply. - Generate a robust baseline on service delivery, energy cost and energy reliability against which the impact of solarisation can be measured. - Develop a prioritisation framework and an evidence-based shortlist of RSKs for Phase-1 intervention, along with standardised, replicable design packages for each identified building archetype. - Demonstrate solarisation at an agreed set of RSKs, with efficient appliances, quality assurance, staff capacity building and a functioning operations-and-maintenance (O&M) arrangement. (Separate Order will be released to EPC Vendor for installation). - Identify and unlock at least one viable public financing pathway — a scheme, budget line, convergence route or delivery model — through which the Department of Agriculture can fund state-wide scale-up, supported by ready-to-use documentation. - Measure and document outcomes through midline and end-line assessments, and produce knowledge products that support replication in Karnataka and in other states. - Ensure that all designs, specifications, costings and tools produced are open-source and usable by the Government of Karnataka without dependence on the consultant. - Implementation Monitoring and Ensuring Handover and other documents collection for the projects for selected RSK’s. Total target of implementation will be 500 Nos. To Apply Interested consultants / organisations, with relevant experience (please include samples and/or references of previous similar work as proof of experience) and based out of India are requested to reach out with a detailed proposal giving a brief on the methodology and the process they will undertake for this project, including budgets (with break-ups and explanation), timelines and milestones, and submit the same to the Google form https://forms.gle/nzzJhTzAv35TjuiN7 on or before 5th September, 2026 17.00 hrs. Any further queries please write to [contact details removed] with a subject line: "Solarizing Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) – Karnataka" (Name of Project) To download the full ToR, click here: Solarizing Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) in Karnataka