Governments after governments have lumped almost all consumers into one simplistic category – as far as having light in the evening is concerned when people cook and serve evening meals for their families.
What I am saying here is that the need of the very poor for power - is very small. The government, on the other hand, is talking big things, big projects like coal linkage, nuclear power etc, and blaming the Central Government and some others for inadequate supply.
The question is: Has it thought of the resource (solar energy) it already has for which it does not have to ask anyone for its supply?
On one side, the banks have been pumping out Bihari’s money by keeping low credit / deposit ratio but have denied credit (loan) to poor to buy solar machines for electricity . Banks say that the poor are credit risks.
What about the Bihar Government itself whose responsibility is to supply electricity - which can borrow and open solar energy supply centres just like ration centres in villages - where the very poor can charge batteries instead of buying kerosene?
Once this thing works, then it can think of larger unitsof the ones that are described above - for those in towns etc for light and small pumps to lift water - for domestic consumption.
This way, it can address the needs of large fraction of the population whose need for electricity is not very much when seen in terms of Western standards ; it , the need, is - electricity for a fan or two per house per night; light in few rooms, and a small pump.
It goes without saying that the people have to be ready to pay for electricity at a rate which is similar to the electricity generated by Diesel. The government does not have the money to provide free or subsidized electricity – it will go bankrupt in no time. In the Western countries, people consume a lot of electricity but they pay for it.
This way, one would be able to have idea about the actual demand for electricity. That demand for electricity where the expectation is free electricity – does not constitute a real demand.
comments...
I am requesting you to kindly watch one of the two videos below where I show
that it requires very little amount of electricity for basic illumination of
homes; people can solve this problem themselves rather than looking to the
government for it. I believe the minimum charge of the government to provide
electricity is around Rs 100 per meter and if this is correct then the poor do
not consume that much of electricity to pay Rs 100 plus initial installation
charges.
This lamp when manufactured by people in the villages themselves either through
the help of an electrician or a college going student of physics, would cost Rs
120 to 150.
The components should be available in Chandni Chowk near railway station or in
Bakergunj at Patna.
VIDEOS available on Youtube
HINDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMIWZEAEplc
ENGLISH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOEl8d8Ry8
I have uploaded the videos on You tube so that it is widely available to people
who want to use the lamp and those who want to manufacture the lamp. An ordinary
electrician or a college student in physics can make it. It is available in two
languages – Hindi and English so that a non-Hindi speaking person can watch it.
One has to be patient while watching because the information comes to your
computer at a slow rate.
Thanks
Anand M. Sharan
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have tested a Light Emitting Diode ( LED ) Lamp which
consumes only 12% of energy compared to a regular lamp and which runs on 12
Volt DC ( like car batteries ). The advantage is that it can be used by the
poor by buying old car batteries ( less capital ) but large energy storage
capacity so that these need to be recharged after say, 21 days like gas
cylinders. The other LED lamps available in the market to-day (Chinese made }
have small 4 Volt batteries which need to be recharged every day provided
there is supply of electricity which most of Bihar does not have.
My lamp completely eliminates the use of kerosene lanterns and other kerosene
based illuminating devices. In addition, kerosene based systems have open flame
which is dangerous and huts and houses can catch fire.
I have built this LED lamp at Navasari in Gujarat where I am staying for a few
days. These lamps can be built in villages after the components are purchased
in the cities. It would cost about Rs 120 to 160 to make this lamp.
Anand M. Sharan
-------------------------------
Dear Smt Mamtajee:
I think your analysis of the problem is very correct. I had written a report about development of BiHAR IN 1991. It is still available at
http://www.engr.mun.ca/~asharan/bihar/BIHAR_1991.pdf
To take up any work, one should also look at reasonable chance of succeeding. In this respect, one needs to understand the politicians first and only then expect any of the plans to succeed.
Politicians are in reality – our Masters ( Huqumat People ) although they talk in a polite manner ( not the language of Mogul Rulers ) but their attitude is the just the same.. They win elections not by the results they provide but by strategy – based on castes.
My plan is to have a reasonable chance of success, if possible – based on free market economy – not government help. The components are available in open market, and the assembly of components can be done by a carpenter or by a person whose skill is available in villages.
India launches missiles and satellites similar to a very advanced country but significant fraction of the population do not have sufficient light just after dark – in a country where there is plenty of solar energy.
The need or electricity consumption of these people is negligible but still the government would not provide them even with a very little amount of electricity.
Can anyone change the government’s thinking ? I think it is extremely difficult – not in my lifetime.
Therefore, it is best to leave them alone and not expect much from them.
Anand M. Sharan
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr Sharan and Mr Pradeep,
There are two level of power require . One is diya like light for the household and other for industrialisation.
As substiture to diya is what we are talking about Solar or Bio-gasification. I will ask a simple question - do our people deserve only a diya or a 7Watts CFL bulb. There is nothing like at least let have. It is that you are seeing only as begger that they have dirty torn clothes to cover themselve. The desicion of having only one bulb can be made by the people themselves, who dare not thing the heavan. But to have our leaders think and plan for that is shameful. At least they can plan to give the people of Bihar a decent life with a few bulbs and fans. Moreover the statistics have it that the politicans i.e our leaders only give much less than what they promise. So going by that statistics they plan for a 7 watts bulb and they land up give us nothing - not surprising right.
Second is state is not going to develop with a bulb they need power for industrialisation. This cannot be done by Bio-Gasification (like husk power ) or Solar. This is acutally going to ensure if the people can earm to pay for the electricity.
Being late in getting into industrialisation and the state of Electricity can actually take advantage of being in a fortunate position of being late in development. Bihar is probably the only state which is starting from a plain sheet. NO Electricity , No industriralisation , No roads, No bridges. When I write this it is like India of 1950 when we had so little that it was equivalent to being negligible. Therefore, we are a fortunate state to start from the scatch learn from all the models , failures and success and choose what works best for us. Not try to replicate what other have done but do what other states missed doing when they were working on their growth stories.
Why do we go on harping on that center is not giving as this and that. To the hell with the center. Divice a plan like Singapore. We donot plant to generate power at least immediately. We will buy power from the people who have the surplus and who give as at a rate we fix.Power rates in open access is surpriseling quite reasonable expect between 6p.m. to 10p.m. Druing this period Industries should close down and take their break. Night time power is at the cheapest. at around less than Rs 2 per unit in open market. Industries should take advantage and work during the night. If we do away with the peak time usage of the evening the average price of power has never gone beyond Rs 5 at a average. Industries are going to paying over Rs 6 per unit very soon and that also for not getting the power.
Government should trun BSEB into a just a facilitating role like Singapore's govt officials are. The taxes and usage of infrastructure cost kept at minimal so that the BSEB continues to get a better return because of the volume.There target should be to encoruage the volume and make money thru volume sale of electricity. The T&D system is currently pethetic and losses are enormours - anywhare between 40 to 60% . Privatise it 100% so that they can take care of transmission facility and trim down the theft and losses.
As you both have discussed the problem is goverment is not willing to solve the problem. They are not willing to accept or thing out of box. They only want example of what is hapening e
Dear Mr Sharan and Mr Pradeep,
There are two level of power require . One is diya like light for the household and other for industrialisation.
We are talking of Solar , bio-Gasification as a substitute to diya. I will ask a simple question - do our people deserve only a diya or a 7Watts CFL bulb. There is nothing like at least let have. It is that you are seeing people only as beggar that they have dirty torn clothes to cover themselves. The decision of having only one bulb can be made by the people themselves, who have been taught not to think big . But to have our leaders think and plan for one light is shameful as they are the ones who are in power as they taught themselves to think big. At least they can plan to give the people of Bihar a decent life with a few bulbs and fans. Moreover the statistics have it that the politicians i.e our leaders only give much less than what they promise. So going by that statistics they plan for a 7 watts bulb and they land up give us nothing - not surprising right.
Second is state is not going to develop with a bulb, they need power for industrialisation. This cannot be done by Bio-Gasification (like husk power ) or Solar. The money and development in the state can only come thru industrialistion. Without industrialisation the people will as it go out of the state.
Being late in getting into industrialisation and the state of Electricity can actually take advantage of being in a fortunate position of being late in development. Bihar is probably the only state which is starting from a plain sheet. NO Electricity , No industrialisation , No roads, No bridges. When I write this it is like India of 1950 when we had so little that it was equivalent to being negligible. Therefore, we are a fortunate state of being able start from the scratch learn from all the models , failures and success and choose what works best for us. WE need is a visionaries to be able to do that. Not try to replicate what other have done but do what other states missed doing when they were working on their growth stories.
Why do we go on harping on that centre is not giving as this and that. To the hell with the centre. Device a plan like Singapore. We donot plant to generate power, at least not immediately. We will buy power from the people who have the surplus and who give as at a rate reasonal enough as today many states have surplus power. Power rates in open access is surprisingly quite reasonable expect between 6p.m. to 10p.m. During this period Industries should close down and take their break. Night time power is at the cheapest. at around less than Rs 2 per unit in open market. Industries should take advantage and work during the night. If we do away with the peak time usage of the evening the average price of power has never gone beyond Rs 5 at a average. Industries are going to paying over Rs 6 per unit very soon and that also for not getting the power.
Government should turn BSEB into a just a facilitating role like Singapore's govt officials . The taxes and usage of infrastructure cost kept at minimal so that the BSEB continues to get a better return because of the volume and monitoring. There target should be to encourage the volume and make money thru volume sale of electricity bythe private distribution licensee. The T&D system is currently pathetic and losses are enormous - anywhere between 40 to 60% . Privatise it 100% so that they can take care of transmission facility and trim down the theft and losses.
As you both have discussed the problem is government is not willing to solve the problem. They are not willing to accept or thing out of box. They only want example of what is happening elsewhere therefore not conceding that Bihar is in a unique position.
I have been trying for two full years to get some policy clearance for Bio-Mass power from the government - The draft energy policy is ready for one and half years I hear now maybe it will see the light of the day. However some severe problem is there in policy till it is released will continue to try to see it that can be taken care. If not, even after all the investment I have made for getting the land, getting clearance may rethink on my strategy.
So , for the betterment of Bihar , hopefully gods in power and position will fulfull our wishes. They have to find the way , we the humble people can only suggest different ideas. What is important is not the end the problem of electriciry getting solved.
Mamta
..........................................
Shree Pradeep:
I did not mean the school itself to have been using solar light but to include
or educate or make people / children aware of the dangers of open flame diyas
and use solar lamps as a safe device. The educational system in India has
defect that children carry a lot of books but there is no education about day
to day things.
Regarding encouraging dowry - one has to be practical and night fight on all
fronts. No one is getting to part with their daughter where she walks away
without anything; it is not a practice in India. If parents want to give
something then it will be quite useful rather than see her living in dark or
exposed to danger. It is mostly women who suffer from burning caused by
accidents.
I am planning to discuss with the I.I. T. Professor to look into the possibility
of experimenting with a new type of solar lamp which emits light of intensity
close to or twice that of a diya but needs a smaller photovoltaic panel which
is the main component which is responsible for higher cost, and a stand with a
stand having a spherical joint at the top to connect the solar panel, and
portable. If the cost could be brought down then its utility will increase. If
he agrees then one can try reducing the cost further down from Rs 500.00 .
Anand M. Sharan
.................................................................................
Professor Sharan,
Sorry for the late reply. Somehow it slipped in between other things to do.
I know that these diyas are a dangerous invention. I have witnessed several fires insinuated by these diyas and rapidly propagated by the wind. (In this scenario, it is not only an open flame with inflammable liquid barely inches away from it, but also the material of construction of the several homes is inflammable as well. Dry grass and fodder is a very common material of construction in Bihar. It sustains and propagates any fire quite rapidly.) Tens of thousands of people are rendered homeless each year in Bihar due to these fires. The worst thing is that even after the fire, the very same house still uses the very same diya as it has absolutely no other alternative. If you travel 100 kilometers from Patna in any direction, you will find plenty of diyas in operation.
I have absolutely no political connection or political clout, and hence I am reluctant to approach government of Bihar for any help. It will take immense lobbying to convince some barely high school graduate politician in Patna to take concrete steps to popularize solar lanterns - and to project solar lanterns as a safe and viable alternative to kerosene lanterns and diyas.
On the other hand, educated and white collared bank employees will not give any loan without any collateral for the money. I can never make them change their policy.
One of your propositions is quite feasible - village by village solar energy based charging house/plant. The villagers can leave their batteries/lamps in the morning at the charging house on their way to work to re-charge it all day and collect it in the evening. They will have to pay a monthly fee to reimburse for the cost solar panels, its accessories, and also for the services of one or two men who will be required to be present at charging house/plant all day.
I am looking for a self sustainable system for villages. The above works very well. Alternatively, I can request a dozen of my friends to sell/distribute about 20 to 25 Kiran Solar Lanterns in their villages at half the cost. Of course, this model is not self sustainable, but it will popularize solar lanterns in the said village.
My plan of action consists of a group of common people, who are willing to do something for the betterment of the their state or their villages. Nowhere in my agenda are politicians, government, NGOs, or banks. My perception is that politicians, government, NGOs, and banks in Bihar can only suck blood out of common people; they can do no good.
I will wait for your evaluation of Kiran Solar Lantern.
Pradeep
.............................................
Dear Shri Pradeep:
Thank you very much for your e-mail and concern for electricity for Biharis.
I visit Patna practically every year but for a brief period only.
I have neither met the Chief Minister nor Dy Chief Minister. I do not see that they have any real interest in bringing electricity to Biharis especially the poor or ordinary ones.
They get the votes based on caste lines and they do not have to show any results to those from whom they get their votes. If the voting was based on results and benefit to Biharis, this situation in Bihar would not have been there.
I was talking to one I. A. S. officer from U. P. cadre. That officer told me that Biharis do not demand or are aware of their rights -so they remain in that condition.
If you have noticed, I never expressed that I have any commercial interest in my invention but the idea arose when I was visiting Netarhat when Bihar and Jharkhand were one state. There, l was standing outside, and electricity went off. I have never seen darkness like that. Really, I could not see my palm when raised my hand.
I decided after that - if possible, I would find a solution for that. When I came back to Canada, I researched in the field of solar energy which was in plenty in India and in Bihar.
But, all these inventions etc proved to be worthless- as far as Bihar was concerned. The system ( the government's interest ) in providing electricity to its own voters is not there. It just goes on making excuses.
Now, I am collaborating with a professor in I. I. T. Patna. We applied for grant from Shashtri Foundation to popularize this model in Bihar but they, the Foundation , rejected the proposal. It would have brought light not only to Bihar but also to other parts of India.
Unless until, awareness comes to the voters that it is the responsibility of the government to provide or guarantee minimum amount of electricity - the situation would not improve. The government turned its clock back and stopped generating electricity in Bihar where it stretches its hand to the Center.
My machine was built ( after buying components from Patna ) in a village near Jehanabad - Naxal infested area where our Maali came from. His parents in that village - have the minimum light for the cost. He had Rs 2, 500 only to buy components. So, I gave him the balance ( another Rs 1500 or 2, 000 ).
I went to the Sate Bank Office ( It used to be Imperial Bank next to the St Xavier's School ) and inquired about the possibility of setting up a system so that the poor like my Maali - could get financing. They told me that I have to go to Bombay where their Head Office is located at.
I thought - What an arrangement the bank has ? For pumping out Bihari's money - they have staff all over Bihar but for making appropriate policy - a person has to go to Bombay to persuade bank CEO.
Mr Pradeep, solving problem for one or two - is not the answer. It has to benefit significant fraction of population who have to be guranteed minimum amount of electricity.
A few years back, I had read that 90 % of the NGOs in Bihar are fake, If this is the situation - how can a place develop.
If the government does not live upto its responsibilities then it is NGO's who can bring about the awareness amongst the people; they can convass for credit for the poor from the banks which are pumping out money from Bihar while the government just looks on.
Material, Knowledge etc are there in Bihar - if things can be done in a village near Jehanabad - they can be built in any other place.
Anand M. Sharan
-----------------------------------------------
Shree Pradeep:
Thanks for making me aware of the modified Diya System that really poor use in Bihar villages.
Yes, I have seen it on TV here in a program about the Tamil Refugees/ Detainees being kept in camps in Sri Lanka;they were using such lamps/diyas as you called them. They also showed the horrors that such lamps have created on many occasions.
They are open flame systems containing inflammable oil. In wind or by some mistake - they drop and tents after tents catch fire. Many lives are either lost or severe burning accidents take place.
Just because many Biharis have to use such systems out of financial constraints - that does not mean they should continue to do the same.
Solar Machines like Kiran Stores has - should be financed to them. This is the least the government / banks have to do or NGOs should do. If micro-credit banks can be functional in Bangladesh , it ought to be functional in Bihar also.
The other solution I had mentioned in my earliest e-mail - was to set up village by village solar energy based charging house/ plant. The farmers can leave their batteries/lamps there in the morning to collect in the evening. Alternately, many such units can be set up in a given village so that the walking distances are minimized.
The Centralized Power Generation systems are not feasible in places where there is a lot of power theft or where the burnt transformers are not replaced quickly.
I have an automation system paper available at
http://journal.library.iisc.ernet.in/vol200605/paper1/415-437.pdf
There are many methods described which have been tested experimentally. Also. due to the sophisticated electronics, it is not suitable for individual homes.
I know, it is a difficult problem but effort /co-ordination is needed to get this kind of situation changed.
The other alternative is to create some jobs in villages so that the poor get some money to buy Kiran Stores type lamps in Rs 500-600.
Anand M. Sharan
..............................................................
Professor Sharan,
Solar Energy is indeed a viable solution against acute electricity shortage and global warming. Bihar has difficulty in setting up power plants for this reason or that, and it is not going to change in any foreseeable future. Early this year Dy CM Modi had promised electricity for all in five years - but, that is just ranting of a politician (http://bihartimes.in/Newsbihar/2011/Jan/Newsbihar09Jan2.html). At the end of his term, he will simply blame center or some other entity and live guilt-free ever after! In a nutshell, the government is and will always be unable to provide electricity to its masses.
Three years prior to Dy CM Modi's promise, you had announced in an article on Bihartimes (http://www.bihartimes.in/viewersvoice/2008/vv1.html) that you had invented and patented an instrument to convert solar energy into electricity - that was particularly suited for mundane energy requirements of a typical Bihari house. You had also claimed that it will cost between 4500 to 6500 Rupees if built in Patna. In an article last year on Bihartimes (http://bihartimes.in/Newsbihar/2010/March/Newsbihar14March1.html), you again reiterated that the solar machine will cost around Rs 4000. My question to you is - what did you do to bring it to Bihar?
Did you or your investor friends set up a plant in Patna or anywhere in Bihar to manufacture these solar machines? Rs 4500 to 6500 is not a lot for many (not most) folks in Bihar and they can easily afford it with or without government subsidy or bank loan. Solar lamps and solar fans have been in Bihar for over 20 years now, and if its cost/efficiency/utility can be increased, they will market very well. As per the recent-most census of India, the population of Bihar is over 10 crores (http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_bihar.html). If even 1% of Bihar's population can afford your lamp without government help or bank subsidy, you still have over 10 lakh potential customers. Think of all the shopowners, businessmen, restaurants, railway stations, bus stands, and police stations in Patna, all district headquarters, and small towns, they are your potential customers - Rs 4500 to 6500 is nothing for them. This venture is bound to be a success at any cost. What is holding you back from bringing it to Bihar?
You have visited Bihar several times. You have attended Bihar Conclave(s) in past. You have met several industrialists and journalists at the conclave. You have met Bihar's CM and Dy CM, who also happen to hold on to the finance portfolio. What steps did you take to make this solar machine available to poor Biharis?
I have put three direct questions to you, and I will appreciate direct and quantitative answers. Your honest answers will bring your Solar Machine closer to Biharis. In case your solar machine is already available in shops in Bihar, you need to provide their name, number, and address as well.
Pradeep
----------------------------
Professor Sharan,
I assumed that you must have met CM and Dy CM at the Bihar Conclave. Bad assumption!
If building the solar machine is as simple as assembling the components purchased in Patna, why not start it on a small scale? Something like manufacturing 50 units at a time and selling it at a price that covers - (1) price of the components, (2) labor cost of assembling, and (3) profit for the shopowner/shopkeeper for selling these units. As per your description below, the total cost should not exceed Rs 5000.
I have definitely noticed that you do not have any commercial interest in your invention, and I really appreciate that. But, here is not the question of profiteering, but the sole goal of bringing these solar machines to Biharis. That is a great humanitarianism. Somewhere someone has to take initiative to utilize your great invention.
So here is my proposition. If your were given a small seed money, say Rs 2,00,000, will you be willing to have 50 of your solar machines assembled in Patna?
As per your own admission, if things can be done in a village near Jehanabad - they can be built in any other place. Why not do it now - for Bihar, for India, and for mankind?
I trust you that 90% of the NGOs in Bihar are fake, but I am sure we can find one that is genuine.
The government does not and will not live upto its responsibilities. Let us keep them aside in this effort.
Pradeep
-----------------------------------------
I guess what Pradeep Ji is saying, absolutely makes sense, we shouldn't be looking at the govt for this initiative. I fully agree with you that govt is just driven by its own set of agenda, normally doesn't coincides with the common mans basic/immediate needs.
With the cost you are setting its bound to gain the popularity and will help lakhs of hapless students who are not able to study properly in the absence of light.
The idea of seed capital is also very good, let us know how much will you need. You are bound to find good investors here only for this nobel cause.
I am sure once it takes off, there will be assembling shop in every corner as we are best at copying, but in a way that is only going to help more people.
--
Rakesh Ranjan
------------------------------------
Dear Shree Pradeep:
I am sorry I do not want to mention the professor's name right now because it may not be in his best interest to get involved in any way right now. He has his own privacy.
My machine uses any plate or battery which are components/elements of the machine. Having a plate of certain Watts is not enough. It will not generate electricity of the same amount unless it is most favorably oriented towards the sun's rays.
I do not have any particular interest in any specific company's products. I am attaching a paper which will be published in U. K. which is written in common man's language.
You will see that people in Bihar who are using kerosene lanterns - should shift to solar powered lighting systems.
The patents are:
Solar Tracking System - U. S. A. , Patent No. 5, 632,832, Issued, May 27, 1997 .
Solar Tracking System, Canada, Patent No. 2, 192, 245, Issued Feb. 16, 1999
Finally, the two companies, MIC Electronics and Beltron Telecom Green Energy Systems Ltd (BTGES), are making bulbs available not electrical energy. People would still need electrical energy. Without the supply, how will these bulbs give light when the power becomes available at midnight ?
What I hope for is that people have elecricity ( light or TV ) available from 6 P.M. to 11 P.M. without break and with constant voltage at an affordable cost. This is not true presently.
Thanks.
Anand M. Sharan
=======================
Professor Sharan,
Could you please reveal the name the IITP processor who is collaborating with you?
We know that Banks in India do not give loans to poor. We cannot do anything about it. Not everybody has the capability to become Professor Muhammad Yunus, the pioneer of micro-credit lending and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2006. Banks like Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank, Saran Kshetriya Gramin Bank, Siwan Kshetriya Gramin Bank, Vaishali Kshetriya Gramin Bank, and Champaran Kshetriya Gramin Bank were primarily established to provide line of credit to poor, but they do not. The Credit Deposit (CD) ratio in Bihari banks is about 30% and it is going remain that way for a long long time unless somebody is ready a put a fight with the banks. I do not have have time, resources, and skills to do that; and I assume the same is true for you as well.
In order to garner support for your design and convince people of its utility, would you please mind putting an article on BiharTimes about it? Please make it a non-technical article that highlights the benefits of the solar machine. Since many solar machines are already out there in the market, you will have to illustrate why your design is better/superior than others in the market. Please make sure that you provide a comparison with the government approved TATA BP solar plates and Exide batteries. (Two months ago a solar lamp scam was unearthed in Bihar: http://www.zeenews.com/news691351.html. We do not want to fall in that category later on.) Please put your article in the context of Bihar only.
Also, could you please share your patents on this design? What are the patent numbers in US and CANADA?
Lastly, have you contacted the two companies, MIC Electronics and Beltron Telecom Green Energy Systems Ltd (BTGES), that had hoped to distribute 330,000 LED lamps in the rural areas of Bihar last year? Their aim was to distribute 10 million lamps in the nest three years. More story at http://cleantechnica.com/2010/05/29/solar-powered-led-lamps-to-bring-green-energy-to-indias-rural-areas/. If not, it may not be a bad idea to approach them now.
Pradeep
------------------------------------
Shree Pradeep:
Thanks a lot for your e-mail.
If money is there then producing machines in Patna -is not a difficult job. The details need to be worked out when time comes.
I am planning to go within a month or so.
Whether it is a shop or some NGO - we can decide later on. I had discussions with the prof at I. I. T. Patna. He may help us on this matter. First thing is to get the funds.
I still think, a co-ordinated effort is needed at the banks which are pumping out Bihari's money. The demand for such machines is amongst the very poor who are being taken for granted by both politicians as well as banks.
The awakening movement like Gandhijee's or Anna Hazare's or Baba Ramdev's is needed to move Bihar up. Right now, the people are being exploited.
Anand M. Sharan
-----------------------
Professor Sharan,
Thanks a lot for your willingness to help. Your Maali seems to be the natural choice of point-of-contact man in Bihar.
Is your Maali competent to assemble future units? Will he be able to assemble 50 units in Patna? He lives is Jehanabad, which is only 65 kilometers from Patna and which is well connected by railways. Everyday people from Jehanabad come to Patna for work in the morning and travel back to Jehanabad in the evening. It is quite convenient.
If your Maali can, he can even use the same carpenter, who he used last time.
Will your Maali be able to buy the necessary components for building 50 solar machines?
He services won't be for free. He will be paid a fixed amount, say Rs 100, per unit built. If he can't or if you think he can't spare any time from his current job, we will look for another person. It will be slightly challenging, but not impossible.
The second hiccup is your presence/absence in Patna. You said that you visit Patna practically every year. When is your next trip to Patna? Will it possible for you to spare two days for this effort? If your next trip is in summer, we will have to postpone this effort to your subsequent trip of India.
The third obstacle is finding a shop/shopkeeper that is willing to sell these solar machines. Hopefully, we will be able to persuade some shops and establishments like
Krishna Solar House, Patna
Engaged in distribution of solar camping lantern, solar lantern, residential solar lantern, institutional solar lantern, portable solar lantern, solar powered lantern along with solar water heaters, solar photovoltaic modules, solar surface pumps.
Send Enquiry Address: Basement, AC Market, Opposite Hari Om Complex, New Dak Bungalow Road,
Retail Outlet: Exhibition Road, Patna, Bihar - 800 001, India
Phone: +(91)-(612)-6588629 Fax: +(91)-(612)-2200025
Mobile / Cell Phone: +(91)-9534344400/9874834440
Contact Person: Mr. Piyush Agrawal
to display these units and talk to customers about the utility of these solar machines. This should not be a tough task, unless the shopowner has exclusive agreement with some other supplier. I am sure there are more than one solar shops in Patna, and if this invention stands out among all others, the shopowners should not have a hesitation in marketing it.
The fourth and the final hurdle is for me to collect funds. I will start it soon once we agree on the modality of above three points.
Pradeep
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