Sanctioned Projtes:

Implementing Agency:

Jankibai Trust, Shamgiri, Agra Road, Deopur, DHULE: 424 005. Contact Person: Prof. Ajay Chandak. PH/fax: 02562-271795, 271995, MB: +91-9823033344
email: contact@princeindia.org, chandakvg@sancharnet.in,
WEB: www.princeindia.org

Project Co-ordinator:

Prof. Ajay Chandak, from PRINCE.
Kavita Karandikar & Venkatesh Merwade from AID, Austin USA.

Need Of The Proposed Project:

Parabolic solar cookers are fast and convenient as compared to the conventional solar box cookers and hence more preferred. However the awareness programmes and demonstrations are needed to make the technology available to the people and develop confidence in the users.
Cost of the parabolic solar cooker is the main hurdle in promoting these systems in rural areas. The subsidized cost of these cookers is approximately Rs. 3300/-, however many rural families won't be able to invest even this subsidized cost, at least till the confidence of using these cookers is developed.
Aanganwadi workers do have good social contacts in the rural areas and they can become good promoters for these solar cookers. A community solar cooker is in use at the Aanganwadi worker's training Institute at Vidyanagari Dhule. A feedback from these workers who are using community solar cooker indicated acceptance of the domestic solar cooker at the cost of approx. Rs. 1000/-. If a mechanism of cross subsidizing these cookers for Aanganwadi workers is made available then it will be possible to make the cookers available to these Aanganwadi workers at about Rs. 1000/-. In that case these cookers can reach in many villages and can generate more awareness if the Aanganwadi workers themselves are using these cookers.

Objectives:

1. To provide cost effective alternative for cooking in rural areas.
   
2. To popularize the solar cooking applications by generating public awareness.
   
3. To protect conventional fuels like "Fire wood", Kerosene and Cooking gas.
   
4. Environmental preservation through eco-friendly alternatives. One solar cooker is expected to save wood equivalent to 2 trees in a year.

Background:

Parabolic solar cooker for domestic applications is an established technology. However there were few problems especially with the choice of reflectors and frame design. PRINCE group has worked on both these problems and the new frame designs are comfortable for operations. Imported reflectors of Alanode have been tested for more than 18 months without any decrease in reflectivity of the material and thecompany guarantees more than 80% reflectivity for 5 years. With most of the problems sorted out the main job left is generating public awareness through demonstrations.

PRINCE conducted demonstrations of these solar cookers at different public places and run solar canteens at few places. It is observed that through cost cutting measures and demonstrations many users can be motivated to purchase and use this beautiful solar technology. Over last year there were approx. 33 parabolic solar cookers were sold in Maharashtra by a multinational company (Tata BP) at the subsidized cost of @ Rs. 6000/- , while one of our members, Essential Equipments sold 70 parabolic cookers in just span of 3 months at cost of @ Rs. 3000/-. In current year because of effort of PRINCE members more than 100 systems have already been installed. PRINCE provided all necessary technical backup and volunteers for demonstrations etc. Because of restricted funds most of the activities were in and around Dhule city.

Promoting the Parabolic Solar Cookers in rural areas needs more effort for the following reasons.
1. Most of the rural people have limited purchasing capacity.
2. Changing existing systems of using wood, kerosene etc. is not easy.
3. Confidence level is poor.

Experience of Bareli Rural Women Institute in Indore indicates good acceptability to the parabolic solar cooker if proper training for solar cooking is given to these rural women. They have been using this practice since last 3-4 years with good success. The idea of training and cross subsidizing solar cookers for Aanganwadi workers was initiated from the success of Bareli Rural Women Institute.

PROJECT DURATION: 12 months.

METHODOLOGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION:

The project will be a pilot project with the help of Aanganwadi workers. Different activities to be taken up in the project are as under.

1. Training of "Solar Cooking Trainers" Bareli Rural Women Institute at Indore for 2 weeks duration.
   
2. Imparting training to the Aanganwadi workers at the training Institute for solar cooking techniques.
   
3. Practicing solar cooking by Aanganwadi workers themselves for cooking the local dishes they are conversant with at home.
   
4. Distribution of solar cookers to interested Aanganwadi workers at a common function in presence of MEDA/MNES representatives. MEDA representatives are expected to complete formalities of inspection and review for claiming subsidy.
   
5. Making arrangement of delivering the solar cookers to the interested Aanganwadi trainees at subsidized rates.
   
6. Collecting feedback from the Aanganwadi workers fortnightly for min. 3 months period.
   
7. Evaluation of success of programme.

FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROJECT:

 

S. No.	Description of activity.	Qty.	Rate	Amount
1	Training for trainers for Solar Cooking at Indore.	L.S	3000	30000
2	Traveling Expenditure.	L.S	5000	5000
3	Training to Aanganwadi workers	L.S.	3000	3000
4	Parabolic dish cookers with standard accessories.	30Systems	5800	174000
5	Office expenditure.	L.S.	5000	5000
			total	190000

SOURCES OF FUNDS

OUTCOME EXPECTED FROM THE PROJECT:

• Greater awareness regarding use of solar energy in rural areas. Developing confidence in people in rural areas that the solar cooking systems do work and they are beneficial, healthy and environmental friendly.
  
• More users should come forward following the experience of the Aanganwadi workers using the solar cookers.
  
• Developing new manufacturers generating employment and technology dissemination.

Success of the project can be gauged by the feedback obtained from the users, fuel saving statements and new demand generation for the systems.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE PROJECT: Project has been sanctioned by AID, Austin, USA and their contribution is handed over to their Indian counterpart. The project is ongoing and actual distribution of parabolic cookers will start in Sept. 2004, after monsoon. Arrangement for training are already made.