Social Activities

SOLAR WATER HEATER PILOT PROJECT(PHASE-II) : APRIL-2023

29 Units (23Units of 500 liter and 6 units of 250 liter)

After implementation of the first phase in village Sainj wherein six units were installed in March 2021, the improvement in the standard of life, especially of women, was found to be tremendous and hence many other villagers showed interest in installing solar heaters and  approached the Ashram for assistance. Seeing the success of phase-I in terms of output and zero maintenance and in view of the enthusiastic response from the local villagers, Arya Vihar ashram decided to implement phase 2.  This phase would cover a wider range of the eco zone valley and some villages just on the outskirts to spread the knowledge of such systems among a wider public.

Thus, in second phase, we chose 29 village families spreading across 70 km.  These included Village Raithal (2 units), Lata (2 units), Sainj (3 units), Kumalti (1 unit),  Maneri (2 units),

Shiror (2 units), Ganeshpur (2 units), Gangori (1 unit), Uttarkashi (4 units), Chakon (4 units), Fold (1 unit), Bagsari (1 unit), Pipali (1 unit), Athali (1 unit) to Village-Nair (1 unit) and Kandisaur (1 unit).

The criteria for choosing the families were mainly three –

1. The size of family: We gave preference to larger households so that maximum benefit could accrue.
2. Rural locality: We chose villages over town areas, keeping the latter to a minimum.
3. Willingness of villager: We obviously chose the villagers who approached us with a willingness to contribute their share, on the basis of first come first served.
4. We gave preference to those with financial need wherever such choice was possible.

The implementation of the same commenced in July 2022 and was completed in April-2023.
 

 

 

 

 

                                       

Right from the beginning, ashram sadhaks were actively involved in each and every step and provided constant supervision and help in installing these systems. The response was wonderful and villagers especially women expressed true gratitude because of reduced heavy labor in carrying fuelwood from high forests. These solar heater units provide hot water for the various works of daily routine from morning to late evening e.g. morning tea, bathing, washing pots, cooking food, taking care of cow/buffalos, washing clothes etc.

It has further been observed that such initiatives are greatly beneficial in view of conserving the nearby community forest. Based on our own information from the local users and published studies, 30 such solar water heaters  in a village would serve in saving approximately 1,82,700 kg fire wood/year from the Himalayan forest, equivalent to about 210 trees per year, and subsequent reduction of approximately  300 tonnes CO₂ emission per year. Undoubtedly this makes the Arya Vihar solar initiative greatly beneficial to the Himalayan ecology and forest conservation.

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