GUWAHATI, July 21 - Under the �Unnat Chulha Abhiyan� programme of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) organised a demonstration of different models of portable metallic improved �chulhas� on July 19 in its office complex at Bigyan Bhawan here.
AEDA is implementing the �Unnat Chulha Abhiyan� of MNRE in the State. The objectives of the programme are to use improved biomass cook-stoves for providing cleaner cooking energy solutions in rural, semi-urban and urban areas using biomass as fuel for cooking; to alleviate drudgery of women and children using traditional �chulha� for cooking and to mitigate climate change by reducing black carbon and other emissions resulting from burning biomass for cooking.
AEDA is distributing 20,000 such portable metallic �chulhas� through different organisations and agencies of the State. A Central Government subsidy of Rs 400 per domestic �chulha� and up to Rs 5,000 (or 50 per cent) per community �chulha� is available under the programme, a press release stated.
Apart from efficient cooking in households using biomass or firewood as cooking fuel, such �chulhas� bring huge savings of firewood for community cooking as well, the release said.
Community �chulhas� are ideal for schools where mid-day meals are prepared, tribal hostels, anganwadis, setups where mass cooking is done, forest guest houses etc.
AEDA has shortlisted five MNRE-approved manufactures/suppliers for the programme � Greenway Grameen, Mumbai; Supernova Tech., Mumbai; Adarsh Anand, Gujarat; Sri Ramdeo, Bhopal and Phoenix Udyog Pvt. Ltd, Himachal Pradesh.
An interaction between the beneficiaries, NGOs and the suppliers was also organised.
