Sunday, September 28, 2008

Issiues and strategies in Education Campaign of PCRA

ATTEMPTED on August 6, 2008

This note is to bring out the need and importance of
carrying out the EC of PCRA through TV Serials on Channels.

Out of athe total budget of 25 crores, allocation for
Education Campaign is 12 cr.
Energy Audit (incl. expn on 4 CRC offices) is 8 Cr.
Research is 3 cr.
Networking and office 2 Cr.

The Concept of Education Campaign was introduced in PCRA since
1992 when an yearly OGC week was introduced.Gradually more methodologies
were added to it. Video was used as a tool first in 1995 with
some good video films on Fuel saving methods in Industries.

Growth of Video medium in PCRA :--

1st some Videos on fuel saving in Industries -- time 15 to 30 min
2nd some Videos on fuel saving in agriculture and domestic sectors -- time 15 to 30 min
3rd Video jingles to use as advertisement on Channels

Attempt to list my initiatives in PCRA

New Thrust of PCRA Activities during June’ 02 to Oct’ 05
1. Main focus of PCRA activities are towards conservation of Petroleum Products and Energy in general.
2. New TV spots, Films , Jingles were made on petroleum conservation in transport, domestic , agriculture and industrial sectors.
3. Massive campaign started with TV, Radio, Newspapers, Hoardings, Bus panels, etc to generate awareness among masses towards petroleum conservation.The campaign covered all the sectors and spreaded throughout the country
4. Existing Literature on petroleum conservation was re-designed to make them more educative. Developed new literature.
5. In July’ 2002, PCRA initiated a serious brainstorming program on how to extend the reach of awareness on petroleum conservation to the length & breadth of the country. Children and youth were identified as the focal point through whom the message would be communicated more effectively. Keeping this in view, PCRA designed two content-rich programs on electronic media, one for radio titled, “Boond Boond Ki Baat” and one for Television titled, Khel Khel Mein Badlo Duniya”.

A popular character, “Petro Uncle” who by virtue of his style of attracting listeners made a mark in everyone’s mind regarding petroleum conservation measures, spearheaded the Radio program. This one hour weekly Hindi radio program was run for 3 years 10 months spanning over 184 episodes. The popularity of this program encouraged PCRA to adapt the program in 6 regional languages, viz. Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Assamese, Telugu etc. and broadcast it through 50 stations in respective states of the country.

The television program was designed to involve children from various schools of the country. The idea behind the program was to make India’s schoolchildren a part of the program who would carry the message of petroleum conservation into various strata of the society. Every week, the program received more than 2000 SMS responses apart from more than 100 letters and 300 emails. This popular half an hour Hindi TV program was run for 3 years 3 months spanning over 143 episodes. In view of whopping popularity, 26 episodes of the program were also adapted and telecast in Tamil and Assamese.
6. Vocational skill building was identified as one of the most effective tool to for Fuel-efficiency in the country. Our country has a huge chunk of un-skilled labourer and they need to be imparted vocational skills in order to improve their efficiency level. With this idea in mind, PCRA produced large number of vocational films on skill building and showed it on DD National.

7. More Emphasis was given on LPG clinics for conservation of LPG.
8. Installed Count down timers in Delhi and spread awareness about saving fuel at traffic intersections.
9. Developed films, literature, networked with various stakeholders for promotion of biodiesel in India. Coordinated and organized various meetings for formation of Biodiesel Purchase policy which is released by MoP&NG.
10. Driver Training Program, the unique program of PCRA was for the first time taken up on a large scale so as to include all drivers of State Transport Undertakings. The result achieved in Rajasthan State Transport Undertaking was immensely encouraging. Savings was reported to be Rs. 6 Crore in Rajasthan STU with only 25% drivers being trained.
PCRA, for the first time, also introduced a system of having feedback from the trained drivers n how they felt about the program and how beneficial was the program for them.
11. PCRA, for the first time since its inception, could increase the number of Research & Development projects from a meager 3 numbers to 25 numbers in a year. Also for the first time, PCRA began producing films on successful R&D projects in order to multiply its effect by showing the films in the cluster industries.
12. For replication of the findings of the successful research on saving of petroleum products, conducted workshops, developed films and litrature, organized seminars with associations of stakeholders.
13. Initiated networking with Energy conservation organizations of other countries like Japan (ECCJ), China etc.
14. Initiated the concept of one way toll collection at toll bridges and organized meetings with various stake holders.
15. For the first time, PCRA associated with the State Industrial Rural Development to impart training on fuel efficiency.
16. The number of energy audits carried out per year in various industries increased drastically and most importantly, PCRA increased the number of Follow-ups that eventually determines the savings.

Paid Energy Audits in various industries were very successful for active participation of the industrialists and their commitment. The program became very popular and PCRA received many repeat orders and multiple order from different units of same organization, viz. Mother Dairy, Amul etc.
17. PCRA organized Two-Wheelers Rally to promote the concept of petroleum conservation