Community laundry

(As a part of our Urban Energy Management Program : Exerpt from the Annual Report of PCRA, 2003-2004)


Community laundry in Women's hostel, operated by physically challenged girls

Conservation of natural resources like water is as important as conservation of energy. The community laundry is one of the ways of conserving both water & electricity. Conservation of water through community washing is in line with PCRA’s mandate.

PCRA is promoting the system of community laundry as a conservation measure through its infotainment programs “Boond Boond Ki Baat” and “Khel Khel Main Dadlo Duniya”. A four minutes clip on good practices includes:

Ų Methods of conservation of water, energy, detergent and time
Ų Employment opportunities

During 2003-04, PCRA introduced the community laundry concept as part of Urban Energy Management in the state of Orissa for which initiative was taken by M/s. Mahila Vikas Samabaya Nigam (Govt. of Orissa Undertaking). They installed 6 launderettes out of 10 sponsored in different women hostels with 50% contribution from PCRA.

Awareness programs/ workshops on energy conservation & environment protection were organized for ten days w.e.f. 28-04-04 in which 40 physically challenged women, along with hostel boarders, took part to make the scheme more effective & efficient. It helped in building confidence among physically challenged women who were trained to run the units at the following locations:


1. Nivedita Working Women’s Hostel - one unit
2. Ramadevi Women’s College - one unit
3. Mancheswar Working Women’s Hostel - one unit
4. Utkal University Campus, ladies hostels - 3 units

The Nigam has put up separate submeter at each location and water consumption on the basis of water tank capacity.

The scheme evolved as follows:

Ų PCRA received proposal from M/s. Mahila Vikas Samabaya Nigam, Orissa vide their letter ref. No.399 dated 30-01-04
Ų Proposal was put up for management approval vide note dated 25-02-04.
Ų Proposal got concurred and approved on 11-03-04.
Ų Approval was intimated to Managing Director M/s. Mahila Vikas Samabaya Nigam, Orissa vide PCRA letter ref. No. PCRA/Launderette dated 15-03-04.