Project: The Construction of Smokeless Stoves
Funded by: Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Energy and Development (MGIRED),
and
Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA)
Duration:
Following fruitful experiences, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Energy and Development (MGIRED), Bangalore
put forward a proposal to the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) for the construction of smokeless
stoves in Gubbi. PCRA approved of the project, for the construction of 380 smokeless stoves, in the first phase.
MGIRED gave TIDE the grant to get the stoves built, to monitor their construction and to maintain data thereof.
Smt. Katyayini, a stove entrepreneur agreed to build the stoves; she was asked to select villages and convert them
to smokeless villages.
Construction of Smokeless Stoves
Smt. Katyayini built 380 stoves in 5 villages, of which 3 have been converted into smokeless villages. TIDE’s
criterion for being considered a smokeless village is that at least 80% of the households in the village should
have a smokeless stove.
The project has helped to build the capacity of Smt. Katyayini. She has developed certain criteria for the
selection of villages where stoves are to be built. She has also learnt to organise the materials for stove
construction on her own. Further, her marketing skills have improved tremendously, as she has understood the art of
convincing households who hesitate to get a smokeless stove built.
Workshop on Smokeless Stoves
Post completion of the first phase involving the construction of smokeless stoves, PCRA funded a workshop on
smokeless stoves. The objective of the workshop was to encourage the adoption of clean and energy-efficient
biomass-burning stoves to promote energy, security and clean indoor air in rural households and to simultaneously
avoid the usage of kerosene for cooking.
The experiences of TIDE, MGIRED and other organisations in the dissemination, use and feedback of smokeless
stoves, were presented. The way ahead for smokeless stoves and the involvement of other stakeholders were also
discussed. The Envirofit stove and the BP stove were also demonstrated. The users who attended the workshop felt
that the stoves were too expensive for them. However, they felt that if offered a loan from a microfinance
institution, they would consider buying a stove.
Workshop on Smokeless Stoves
Training conducted by TIDE in the construction of Smokeless Stoves
The technical training package developed in the earlier project funded by ETC, continued to be used to train
women in stove construction. TIDE trained 5 women in Knakapura identified by an organization called Namana in the
construction of stoves.
|
