An Overview of a village training programme on Alternate Sources of Energy in Chandigarh, India

More than 30 men and woman were given training in the technologies, designs and tools needed to make smokeless cooking stoves, solar heating systems, solar lights etc

The Energy Research Centre of Panjab University (P.U.), Chandigarh (India), in collaboration with the Centre for Adult, Continuing Education & Extension (CACEE), organized a training programme for more than 30 men and women of Sarangpur Village (UT) in Chandigarh on “Alternate Sources of Energy, There Impact on Environment and Health” at the residence of Ms Bhupinder Kaur Ex Sarpanch of the Village on 31 May 2008. This is a part of a continuing programme to spread awareness among rural people about the usefulness of alternate sources of energy. Professor V.K. Rattan, Hony. Director of the Energy Research Center, informed the participants in simple terms about the utility and easy availability of the technologies, designs and tools needed to make smokeless cooking stoves, solar heating system, solar lights, solar radio, solar dryer, solar fans etc. He said the solar panel used for these devices can last for more than twenty years and also emphasized that smokeless chullas (cooking stoves) are very easy to make from locally available soil and can also be made with cement and concrete. He conveyed to the participants that Energy Research Centre P.U. can provide all kind of technical help to prepare these domestic devices free of cost.

Then after this the entire team of Professor V.K. Rattan ably supported by Mr Raman Kumar Tuli, Technical Officer along with Mr Mohinder Kumar, and Lakshman Yadav demonstrated to the participants how to make these chullas at home. They also demonstrated the working of solar radio, solar lights, solar fans and solar cooker. Dr Sween, Director of CACEE, introduced the theme of training and said that alternate sources of energy are becoming more and more crucial because the conventional sources of energy are depleting very rapidly and also creating a lot of problems for the environment and human health.

For more information contact:

Prof. V. K. Rattan Hony. Director, Energy Research Centre, Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh - 160014 TEL OFFICE : 0172-2534919, 2534940 RESI : 0172-4611069, 2771498 MOBILE : 09815334198 FAX : 0172- 2724524