ISLE-KSC has tied up with other NGO's engaged in imparting training in rural areas. Based on the project proposal that ISLE-KSC had submitted to European Commission for training people in villages for utilization of Solar Photo voltaic panels as well as different types of fluorescent lamps and the Light Emitting Diodes in households and in common areas under village panchayats.

The first program was conducted at Chennapattana (October 2009) and the second one was conducted at Gubbi (January 2010).

While no manufacturer has been associated with this activity, it would be desirable that the manufacturers step in and they could set positive examples of cost effective and environmental friendly installations in common or community facility areas in villages, which will open up the vast rural household market.

ISLE-KSC in association with Rajiv Gandhi Koushalya Shale (a skill training institute set up for the under previlaged youth & women) organized a pilot training program for training young women from rural areas in assembly, maintenance & repair of rural solar lighting systems, consisting of solar panels, LED lighting array, battery, charge controller and associated hardware.

The first program of its kind was attended by 32 women in the age group of 16 to 28 from the rural areas under Chennapatna taluk. The program has been received well and the NCVT has been invited to evaluate the the training and identify the skill under the MES scheme.

A large number of solar lighting installations are being put up under various schemes in remote areas without electricity. But these installations quite often face premature failure due to lack of appropriate maintenance. The skill training imparted under this program makes the skilled persons available in the rural areas.

Solar panel (SPV) and the associated devices, like control unit, battery etc., including aspects of orientation were explained. General information about periodic inspection, care and simple (most common) fault and their remedy were demonstrated.

The secnd stage of the training covered the method of assessing, working out and explaining the life cycle cost benefit analysis for the proposed changes.

The training also covers the assembly of the finished units from the knocked down kits. This value addition provides employment and encourages entreprenureship.

Brief explanation was also given about the environmental aspects, benefits of reduction of carbon emission, mercury pollution from improper disposal of fluorescent lamps.

Koushalya Shale will conduct follow up programs and repeat courses at other village centers.

The second program of training on Solar Lighting was conducted in association with TIDE (Technology Informatics Design Endeavour) for women. This program had a different orientation, with focus on highlighting the economics or cost benefit of retrofitting existing lighting installations with energy efficient light sources. The program was attended by 15 women in the age group of 22 to 45 from 7 different villages from around the small town Gubbi, in Tumkur district.

The participnts were trained in the basics of

  • entreprenureship,
  • organization of information dissemination meetings in the neighbourhood.

ISLE-KSC added the following inputs:

  • explaining the benefits of replacing GLS lamps with fluorescent lamps either TFL or CFL,
  • Solar panel (SPV) and the associated devices, like control unit, battery etc., including aspects of orientation,
  • replacement of 40 W or 36 W tubes with 28 W tubes,
  • LEDs & LED based light fittings including their applications, both for general lighting, portable light source and as standby/emergency lighting .
The secnd stage of the training covered the method of assessing, working out and explaining the life cycle cost benefit analysis for the proposed changes.

The positive environmental aspects such as, benefits associated energy efficiency, benefits of reduction of carbon emission by switching over to solar energy, and the negative aspects such as mercury pollution from improper disposal of fluorescent lamps were explained in brief.

TIDE has scheduled the follow-up programs during the following fortnight (Jan 20 to Feb 4, 2010) and will give support by handholding in eachone of the initial programs. These programs will now be organized by those who got trained now. They will hold the intial program in their respective villages.


For more information please visit the respective websites:

Last modified: Monday, 19 July 2010, 07:11 PM

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