The award recognises the GEDA's 200 village-level education programmes for women, particularly rural women who are more vulnerable to the fuel wood crisis. These programmes were organised state-wide through 35 Non-Government Organisation's who were trained in renewable energy promotion. They were also given a specially designed information package, which included educational films, charts, pamphlets and banners.

The GEDA has designed a comprehensive rural awareness program for the current year also which will be conducted in 200 villages. It has designed an energy education package comprising 12 story books, animated films based on folk tales and an activity package (practical model making and guidelines for experiments using locally available materials) to transfer scientific concepts and processes and inform about renewable technologies in tribal and rural areas.

The agency is known for its pioneering work in documenting energy problems of rural women and the impact of Non-conventional Renewable Sources of Energy programmes.

It was invited by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources to edit a special issue of their quarterly journal Urjabharati on Women, Energy, Environment and development to mark the 50th anniversary of India's independence. As part of its efforts to popularise and promote solar cookers, the agency distributed 3952 domestic and 20 community solar cookers during 1997-98.