Concept Note
This concept note is to discuss some technicalities and implementation problems in respect of utilization of Bio-Gas generated from solid waste.
Background :- As per the provisions of Solid Waste Management Act, 2000, it is binding on the Municipal Authorities to make necessary arrangements for proper scientific disposal of the solid waste generated and collected in the Municipal area. Bio digestion is one available technique in such disposal. BARC and some other institutions have been working on various aspects involved in the construction of a proper size digester. Today’s picture in Maharashtra is that BARC has experimented at 49 sites throughout Maharashtra and out of these 49 sites on 18 sites captive consumption of the Bio-Gas so generated was made possible either for domestic kitchen or else. (e.g. Ashram Shala of Rahata Municipality or for pumping operations etc.). However on 31 sites no such consumption of Bio-Gas has been worked out and the biogas is flared up. Total estimated amount of flared gas would be 180 Kg/per day.
Thus Bio-Gas is being burnt at the production sites itself. This is a huge wastage of costly fuel. It also creates continuous high temperature and heat in surrounding region which leads to high level of environmental pollution.
…2/-
- 2 -
Technological possibilities - There are 3 possible solutions to above said problem out of which first two require technological intervention-
A. Generation of Electricity
B. Ballooning the gas and selling it at a different location
C. Creating opportunities for local (in-situ) consumption of the gas.
A. Generation of Electricity – Generation of electricity from Bio Gas is a cost effective and clean process. However if the electricity so generated has to be transmitted for the purpose of putting it into remotely located grid then the cost involved is high. Although estimates are available to predict as to how much power will be generated at each place of gas production, not much study has been done to estimate the cost of transmitting this power to the nearest Grid. This will vary from location to location. It is necessary to give the responsibility of this study to some dedicated agency working in this field. Alternatively if the power so generated can find some local captive use for domestic or commercial operations e.g. for lighting at the Kachara Dumping Site or pumping, then the cost economies will remain viable, but still needs to be studied. Data collection is recommended for this.
…3/-
- 3 -
B. Ballooning the gas – Special rubber balloons are available in which bio-gas can be filled without too much technical difficulty. The balloon material is not yet leak-proof for methane gas. Normally the entire gas can leak out in 70-80 hours. Leakage of this methane gas is harmful to the environment. If the gas can be utilised quickly in 4-6 hours then the damage due to leakage is negligible. Such a quick consumption of the balloon gas is possible in hotel etc. However, it will involve some initial experimentation regarding the proper mode of transportation and proper mode of storage at the place of utilisation. Perhaps some platform may have to be erected at the site of utilisation as well as on the transportation vehicle so that the balloon remains safely anchored. The gas filled balloons can also be utilised by farmers needing pumping of water.
In both these situations the concern Municipal authorities will need to give permissions for utilisation of Bio gas by such outsider agencies which undertakes to balloon the gas and find customers and market for the gas. Municipal authorities will also have to take precautions for ensuring the proper care during transportation and actual utilisation of the gas within 4 to 6 hours.
…4/-
- 4 -
Vide this office letter dated 20th May 2008 YASHADA has been requested to organise a workshop to discuss this entire issue. This concept note is meant for initiating the discussion on the technological aspect. Another concept note regarding involvement of rag pickers for the purpose of turning them from workers to entrepreneurs will be sent separately.
***
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
tsunami affected children in Andman Nikobar
tsunami affected children in Andman Nikobar, need study material for board exam
Friday, January 21, 2005 12:29 PM
From:
"leena mehendale"
View contact details
To:
delhimarathi@yahoogroups.com
Dear Sir,
You may be aware that thousands of tsunami affected
children in Andman Nikobar are concerned about their
forth coming board exams in march for which they have
no study material.
They follow CBSE syllabus and the exam language is
Hindi or English.
We have created a web utility on our website i.e,
http://www.pcra.org
to facilitate students / teachers of X th and
XIIth class for sending us study material for Xth and
XIIth class which will be compiled and
uploaded in our website. From this web utility, the
Tsunami affected students who have lost their study
materials can download the contents and utilise
it for their Xth or XII th board examinations.
For the effective study material collection
and utilization of this web utility we request you to
release appeals to the students and teachers of X th
and XII th who are having study material with them,
for sending soft copy or scanned copy to us by
E-mail at tsunami@pcra.org.
I am in touch with govt authorities in port blair who
are arranging computer download facility there so that
children can quickly get study material.
from our website.
Hope to get an early action from your side.
pl forward this email to many.
For any clarification / queries please write to me at
edpcra@pcra.org.
Thanking you ,
Leena
Mehendale
JS and ED , PCRA
Friday, January 21, 2005 12:29 PM
From:
"leena mehendale"
View contact details
To:
delhimarathi@yahoogroups.com
Dear Sir,
You may be aware that thousands of tsunami affected
children in Andman Nikobar are concerned about their
forth coming board exams in march for which they have
no study material.
They follow CBSE syllabus and the exam language is
Hindi or English.
We have created a web utility on our website i.e,
http://www.pcra.org
to facilitate students / teachers of X th and
XIIth class for sending us study material for Xth and
XIIth class which will be compiled and
uploaded in our website. From this web utility, the
Tsunami affected students who have lost their study
materials can download the contents and utilise
it for their Xth or XII th board examinations.
For the effective study material collection
and utilization of this web utility we request you to
release appeals to the students and teachers of X th
and XII th who are having study material with them,
for sending soft copy or scanned copy to us by
E-mail at tsunami@pcra.org.
I am in touch with govt authorities in port blair who
are arranging computer download facility there so that
children can quickly get study material.
from our website.
Hope to get an early action from your side.
pl forward this email to many.
For any clarification / queries please write to me at
edpcra@pcra.org.
Thanking you ,
Leena
Mehendale
JS and ED , PCRA
Monday, February 2, 2009
A nomination entry for BEST ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES
A narrative of the project
Edutainment project on Energy Efficiency and Environment
2002-2005
Summary :-
Energy conservation is one of the prime aspects of Energy Security. Towards this objective, innovative use of audio-visual media, namely Radio and TV serials, providing edutainment to youth was the high-point of PCRA’s conservation project during 2002-2005. Outreaching youth for attitude building and familiarizing them with total energy solutions were the KPA. Capturing highly scientific and technical aspects in entertaining manner was the challenge. The campaign received enormous response, nearly 3000 messages per week. In 3 years, over 2000 schools and 25 Govt. Deptt. participated.
The Radio Serial named BBKB (August 2002 to August 2006 174 episodes) ran on 67 AIR stations in 6 languages. TV serial KKMBD (May 2003 to August 2006, 143 episodes ) also had few episodes in Tamil and Asamiya. A supportive TV serial Sanrakshan Yog had work efficiency enunciated in Bhagvadgeeta as its anchor-theme. All this has generated a clip bank with nearly 1500 audio-video clips on conservation aspects which is a rich asset. The project has sensitized and activated millions of youth into energy conservation and environment protection.
Sustainability – The programs continued well beyond the tenure of the nominee, upto August 2006. It has paved way to launch a 2nd media project from current year with triple the budget (from 12 crores to 40 crores).
(a) Background (What led to the Initiative / Project) :-
PCRA (Petrolium Conservation Research Association) under the Ministry of Petroleum is established since 1976 and carries out programs of energy audit, research and mass awareness. It is known for organising Oil Conservation Fortnight in January every year. It employees engineers from oil sector on deputation. Average staff distribution is 30 officers at head office, 5 each at four regional offices and one each at 30 field offices in major cities. Total budget for 2001-2002 was 2116 lakhs.
On joining as head of PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) in July 2002, Smt. Leena Mehendale worked to revamp it. She focussed on Innovation, System change, Training and Team building. A cyclic relationship was established in which Mass awareness, Energy Audits, Research and T/T (Training and Team-building) have each provided, input and feed-back to the other three.
This nomination is for the innovative media campaign.
Energy conservation has come to be regarded as the latest and more effective aspect of energy management and security. It goes to the credit of Smt Mehendale to realize that an effective media campaign backed up by actual tips, technological information and statistical data can be very effective way to make people conscious of their role and contribution. Such technological material was already available with PCRA from its core programs of energy audits, research, driver and depot training and the newly initiated program of urban energy management.
(b) Objectives/ Aims :- Plan a 3 year project,
(i) To convert people’s awareness on energy conservation into conscious contribution towards energy efficiency.
(ii) To inculcate this as an attitude.
(iii) To equip them with technical information and skills needed for practicing.
(c) Innovation:-
It was the first effort of this nature and scale.
• Our country has 50 % youth population, hence to involve and include school and college children in media campaign and to make them the torchbearers for energy efficiency.
• Science and Technology are presented as entertainment on TV and Radio. Arousing curiosity and creating knowledge-hunger was the key.
• Energy Conservation is projected as an ATTITUDE.
• It took inputs from CORE activities of PCRA namely, Energy Audits, Research, Urban energy management programmes.
(c) Strategies adopted
• With Energy Efficiency and Environment as theme,
i) Telecast a weekly TV Serial
ii) A weekly AIR Serial and
iii) Other supporting activities.
• Weave in Vocational skill building as it leads to better maintenance practices that lead to energy efficiency.
• Involve the youth by arousing curiosity, and showing what they can do.
• Use CORE activities of PCRA as inputs.
• Highlight PCRA’s thrust on Urban Energy Management
• Underline the philosophy
• Brainstorm within PCRA., Ministry officials, DAVP, DD, AIR, Media persons to finalize details of implementation
• Enlist support from other Ministries. Oil PSUs, Power PSUs
• Measure outcome.
Period of the Project Initiative / Implementation: -
3 years Aug 2002 to Aug 2005.
(f) Role and involvement of the nominee in the Initiative:- The nominee was the head of PCRA. Entire project was under her leadership. She initiated all the strategies and guided the implementation. She had a complete role in this successful project.
(a) Positive Outcomes and sustainability : -
a. The serials received excellent response -- nearly 3000 weekly messages -- E-mail, letters and SMS -- from students, teachers, housewives, industrialists, resident societies and NGOs explaining their own small efforts in energy conservation.
b. The program of such educative nature is perhaps the only program that ran successfully for more than 3 years on a national channel. These programs are meant to give results in the long run.
c. Many viewers took inspiration and started efforts. Annexure II is print out of one such example.
d. Nearly 5000 schools were approached, 2500 prepared and 300 participated. Their teachers, students and parents were all involved in preparing skits and rehearsing and the message of conservation will remain a life-long effect.
e. TRP rating for TV program reached upto 9 in specific Hindi belts, while the average TRP was 4.5
f. The Project sustained itself up to August 2006 even after the transfer to the nominee in October, 2005.
g. This initiative and its success has led PCRA to undertake another Rs.30 crore project for mass awareness for energy conservation.
Philosophy of the programs
• Energy Conservation must be addressed in its totality as it encompasses optimization of material, water, human resources. Improving overall efficiency is conservation.
• Attitudinal change is a long process but it starts with a click when we can make people think.
• Youth will respond positively if they are told that they can change the world for better.
• Skill building leads to better maintenance and eventually to better conservation.
• By creating familiarity with energy & environment sector, we can make children our ambassador for conservation.
• Continuous exposure to various aspects of conservation is needed for long term effectiveness. Hence a weekly series.
The challenge was to produce a serial with scintific topics in entertaining manner. The answer was to select themes to arouse curiosity.
From the vast range of energy audits done by PCRA officers, generic stories were selected. Development of Oil sector, Power sector, alternative energy sector provided another range. Innovative programs implemented by PCRA for urban energy management were also captured.
5 minute clips were shot which explained such themes as
• Steam traps
• Belts
• Driver’s training. -- how to get best KMPL
• Ethanol blending
• Efficiency in pumps
• Energy efficiency in Glass industry,
• Coal bed methane
• Themes of vocational skills
• Handling coal ash
• Community cooking
• Grease traps
Following PCRA activities were also captured.
• solid waste management – segregation of wet kitchen waste and bio-degrading within the residential colony and saving sizeable transportation fuel.
• Community washing. Loaning a launderette to handicapped girls for operating in urban ladies hotels which would conserve water and in turn energy.
• Providing reverse time counters at the traffic junctions thus promoting drivers to stop car engine at red light.
• PCRA Research findings of how the traffic congestion at Delhi Railway Station leads to excessive fuel consumption
• Fuel wastage by defective speed breakers and their correction.
• Promotion of CFL lamps.
Programme Structuere
(I) Radio Programme - " Boond Boond ki Baat" :
Campaign started with a weekly Radio Serial named " Boond Boond ki Baat" which ran in prime hours of Monday morning 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. It entwined Half hour tips and messages, do's and donts for fuel conservation in vehicles and drew tremendous response from janta commuting to office. Programe revolves around four characters who talk about the various conservation and environment related issues in a drama form in simple and entertaining manner. The first 16 episodes were compiled into a book which also received a favorable response from the readers as the book presents highly technicale matters in simple language and entertaining format for school children. Many schools enacted them for their environment day celebrations. The lead role PETRO UNCLE became a popular house- hold name.
(II) TV program – “Khel Khel Mein Badlo Duniya”
The title itself reflects that the program was meant to bring about attitudinal change and to sensitize each household towards efficient energy utilization through education and entertainment combined. It was in a quiz form wherein 2 school groups of 4 participants each competed. These schools were chosen from all over the country. Over 3 years, nerarly 5000 schools were invited. It was packaged in 5 different segments.
“Kuchh Kar Dikhana Hei” had performances by two participating teams, in the form of skit, mimicry, dance-drama etc. on the topics of energy conservation, petroleum products, electricity, water, wild life, environment protection, ecology, social issues of national concern etc.
Second segment “Duniya Badalne Ki Baat” was meant to motivate and inspire present generation by the works of real time stories of individuals or organizations and to emphasize that they can change the world. It also had vocation-based clips, giving hands-on demo. It was targeted at self trained workers, to upgrade their skills.
“Aakdein Bolte Hein” dealt with statistical facts & figures on natural resources & social issues, depicted in the form of graph / chart etc. It involved the viewers to grasp interesting statistics relating to energy conservation.
“Ek Chhoti Si Baat” was a conservation message delivered by a celebrity or newsreading on latest developments of hydrocarbon sector.
Finally, “Aaj Ka Sawal” was sponsored by different ministries. It put questions to the viewers on the schemes of national importance of those departments and 13 randomly selected winners were given cash awards.
Convergence with ministries, oil and power PSUs:-- PCRA convincingly displayed the importance and success of its approach and a number of Ministries / Departments of Govt. of India and Oil and Power sector PSUs have extended their association with it through sponsorship.
Following support programs brought value addition
a. Scheme of “PCRA page” in 30 children magazines.
Another T.V. serial named “Sanrakshan Yog” focussing on work efficiency for conservation, based on Bhagwatgeeta message of "योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्"
b. Conservation rallies for women driving 2 wheelers in major cities.
c. PCRA monthly Hindi journal संरक्षण चेतना
d. Farmers -- hildren interaction on awareness regarding efficiency of pumps & tractors.
All these efforts paid rich dividends.The impact assessment was done through,
a) AIR Report
b) TRP from DD
c) Independent Survey d) Internal
a) AIR estimated the listeners at 336 lakhs of which 20% valued it as very good and 36% found very useful.
b) TRP reporting for TV Program soared upto 9 in Hindi belt. On average it was between 4 and 5.
c) Independent Survey by ORG-MARG reported it to be useful.
PCRA’s internal assessment was that response was overwhelming. PCRA received 105,000 mails for KKMBD and 50,000 for BBKB
------------------------------------------------------------
Edutainment project on Energy Efficiency and Environment
2002-2005
Summary :-
Energy conservation is one of the prime aspects of Energy Security. Towards this objective, innovative use of audio-visual media, namely Radio and TV serials, providing edutainment to youth was the high-point of PCRA’s conservation project during 2002-2005. Outreaching youth for attitude building and familiarizing them with total energy solutions were the KPA. Capturing highly scientific and technical aspects in entertaining manner was the challenge. The campaign received enormous response, nearly 3000 messages per week. In 3 years, over 2000 schools and 25 Govt. Deptt. participated.
The Radio Serial named BBKB (August 2002 to August 2006 174 episodes) ran on 67 AIR stations in 6 languages. TV serial KKMBD (May 2003 to August 2006, 143 episodes ) also had few episodes in Tamil and Asamiya. A supportive TV serial Sanrakshan Yog had work efficiency enunciated in Bhagvadgeeta as its anchor-theme. All this has generated a clip bank with nearly 1500 audio-video clips on conservation aspects which is a rich asset. The project has sensitized and activated millions of youth into energy conservation and environment protection.
Sustainability – The programs continued well beyond the tenure of the nominee, upto August 2006. It has paved way to launch a 2nd media project from current year with triple the budget (from 12 crores to 40 crores).
(a) Background (What led to the Initiative / Project) :-
PCRA (Petrolium Conservation Research Association) under the Ministry of Petroleum is established since 1976 and carries out programs of energy audit, research and mass awareness. It is known for organising Oil Conservation Fortnight in January every year. It employees engineers from oil sector on deputation. Average staff distribution is 30 officers at head office, 5 each at four regional offices and one each at 30 field offices in major cities. Total budget for 2001-2002 was 2116 lakhs.
On joining as head of PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) in July 2002, Smt. Leena Mehendale worked to revamp it. She focussed on Innovation, System change, Training and Team building. A cyclic relationship was established in which Mass awareness, Energy Audits, Research and T/T (Training and Team-building) have each provided, input and feed-back to the other three.
This nomination is for the innovative media campaign.
Energy conservation has come to be regarded as the latest and more effective aspect of energy management and security. It goes to the credit of Smt Mehendale to realize that an effective media campaign backed up by actual tips, technological information and statistical data can be very effective way to make people conscious of their role and contribution. Such technological material was already available with PCRA from its core programs of energy audits, research, driver and depot training and the newly initiated program of urban energy management.
(b) Objectives/ Aims :- Plan a 3 year project,
(i) To convert people’s awareness on energy conservation into conscious contribution towards energy efficiency.
(ii) To inculcate this as an attitude.
(iii) To equip them with technical information and skills needed for practicing.
(c) Innovation:-
It was the first effort of this nature and scale.
• Our country has 50 % youth population, hence to involve and include school and college children in media campaign and to make them the torchbearers for energy efficiency.
• Science and Technology are presented as entertainment on TV and Radio. Arousing curiosity and creating knowledge-hunger was the key.
• Energy Conservation is projected as an ATTITUDE.
• It took inputs from CORE activities of PCRA namely, Energy Audits, Research, Urban energy management programmes.
(c) Strategies adopted
• With Energy Efficiency and Environment as theme,
i) Telecast a weekly TV Serial
ii) A weekly AIR Serial and
iii) Other supporting activities.
• Weave in Vocational skill building as it leads to better maintenance practices that lead to energy efficiency.
• Involve the youth by arousing curiosity, and showing what they can do.
• Use CORE activities of PCRA as inputs.
• Highlight PCRA’s thrust on Urban Energy Management
• Underline the philosophy
• Brainstorm within PCRA., Ministry officials, DAVP, DD, AIR, Media persons to finalize details of implementation
• Enlist support from other Ministries. Oil PSUs, Power PSUs
• Measure outcome.
Period of the Project Initiative / Implementation: -
3 years Aug 2002 to Aug 2005.
(f) Role and involvement of the nominee in the Initiative:- The nominee was the head of PCRA. Entire project was under her leadership. She initiated all the strategies and guided the implementation. She had a complete role in this successful project.
(a) Positive Outcomes and sustainability : -
a. The serials received excellent response -- nearly 3000 weekly messages -- E-mail, letters and SMS -- from students, teachers, housewives, industrialists, resident societies and NGOs explaining their own small efforts in energy conservation.
b. The program of such educative nature is perhaps the only program that ran successfully for more than 3 years on a national channel. These programs are meant to give results in the long run.
c. Many viewers took inspiration and started efforts. Annexure II is print out of one such example.
d. Nearly 5000 schools were approached, 2500 prepared and 300 participated. Their teachers, students and parents were all involved in preparing skits and rehearsing and the message of conservation will remain a life-long effect.
e. TRP rating for TV program reached upto 9 in specific Hindi belts, while the average TRP was 4.5
f. The Project sustained itself up to August 2006 even after the transfer to the nominee in October, 2005.
g. This initiative and its success has led PCRA to undertake another Rs.30 crore project for mass awareness for energy conservation.
Philosophy of the programs
• Energy Conservation must be addressed in its totality as it encompasses optimization of material, water, human resources. Improving overall efficiency is conservation.
• Attitudinal change is a long process but it starts with a click when we can make people think.
• Youth will respond positively if they are told that they can change the world for better.
• Skill building leads to better maintenance and eventually to better conservation.
• By creating familiarity with energy & environment sector, we can make children our ambassador for conservation.
• Continuous exposure to various aspects of conservation is needed for long term effectiveness. Hence a weekly series.
The challenge was to produce a serial with scintific topics in entertaining manner. The answer was to select themes to arouse curiosity.
From the vast range of energy audits done by PCRA officers, generic stories were selected. Development of Oil sector, Power sector, alternative energy sector provided another range. Innovative programs implemented by PCRA for urban energy management were also captured.
5 minute clips were shot which explained such themes as
• Steam traps
• Belts
• Driver’s training. -- how to get best KMPL
• Ethanol blending
• Efficiency in pumps
• Energy efficiency in Glass industry,
• Coal bed methane
• Themes of vocational skills
• Handling coal ash
• Community cooking
• Grease traps
Following PCRA activities were also captured.
• solid waste management – segregation of wet kitchen waste and bio-degrading within the residential colony and saving sizeable transportation fuel.
• Community washing. Loaning a launderette to handicapped girls for operating in urban ladies hotels which would conserve water and in turn energy.
• Providing reverse time counters at the traffic junctions thus promoting drivers to stop car engine at red light.
• PCRA Research findings of how the traffic congestion at Delhi Railway Station leads to excessive fuel consumption
• Fuel wastage by defective speed breakers and their correction.
• Promotion of CFL lamps.
Programme Structuere
(I) Radio Programme - " Boond Boond ki Baat" :
Campaign started with a weekly Radio Serial named " Boond Boond ki Baat" which ran in prime hours of Monday morning 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. It entwined Half hour tips and messages, do's and donts for fuel conservation in vehicles and drew tremendous response from janta commuting to office. Programe revolves around four characters who talk about the various conservation and environment related issues in a drama form in simple and entertaining manner. The first 16 episodes were compiled into a book which also received a favorable response from the readers as the book presents highly technicale matters in simple language and entertaining format for school children. Many schools enacted them for their environment day celebrations. The lead role PETRO UNCLE became a popular house- hold name.
(II) TV program – “Khel Khel Mein Badlo Duniya”
The title itself reflects that the program was meant to bring about attitudinal change and to sensitize each household towards efficient energy utilization through education and entertainment combined. It was in a quiz form wherein 2 school groups of 4 participants each competed. These schools were chosen from all over the country. Over 3 years, nerarly 5000 schools were invited. It was packaged in 5 different segments.
“Kuchh Kar Dikhana Hei” had performances by two participating teams, in the form of skit, mimicry, dance-drama etc. on the topics of energy conservation, petroleum products, electricity, water, wild life, environment protection, ecology, social issues of national concern etc.
Second segment “Duniya Badalne Ki Baat” was meant to motivate and inspire present generation by the works of real time stories of individuals or organizations and to emphasize that they can change the world. It also had vocation-based clips, giving hands-on demo. It was targeted at self trained workers, to upgrade their skills.
“Aakdein Bolte Hein” dealt with statistical facts & figures on natural resources & social issues, depicted in the form of graph / chart etc. It involved the viewers to grasp interesting statistics relating to energy conservation.
“Ek Chhoti Si Baat” was a conservation message delivered by a celebrity or newsreading on latest developments of hydrocarbon sector.
Finally, “Aaj Ka Sawal” was sponsored by different ministries. It put questions to the viewers on the schemes of national importance of those departments and 13 randomly selected winners were given cash awards.
Convergence with ministries, oil and power PSUs:-- PCRA convincingly displayed the importance and success of its approach and a number of Ministries / Departments of Govt. of India and Oil and Power sector PSUs have extended their association with it through sponsorship.
Following support programs brought value addition
a. Scheme of “PCRA page” in 30 children magazines.
Another T.V. serial named “Sanrakshan Yog” focussing on work efficiency for conservation, based on Bhagwatgeeta message of "योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्"
b. Conservation rallies for women driving 2 wheelers in major cities.
c. PCRA monthly Hindi journal संरक्षण चेतना
d. Farmers -- hildren interaction on awareness regarding efficiency of pumps & tractors.
All these efforts paid rich dividends.The impact assessment was done through,
a) AIR Report
b) TRP from DD
c) Independent Survey d) Internal
a) AIR estimated the listeners at 336 lakhs of which 20% valued it as very good and 36% found very useful.
b) TRP reporting for TV Program soared upto 9 in Hindi belt. On average it was between 4 and 5.
c) Independent Survey by ORG-MARG reported it to be useful.
PCRA’s internal assessment was that response was overwhelming. PCRA received 105,000 mails for KKMBD and 50,000 for BBKB
------------------------------------------------------------
Edutainment project on Energy Efficiency and Environment
Edutainment project on Energy Efficiency and Environment
2002-2005
Summery :-
Energy conservation is one of the prime aspects of Energy security. Towards this objective, innovative use of audio-visual media, namely Radio and TV serials, was the high-point of PCRA’s conservation project during 2002-2005. Outreaching youth for attitude building and familiarizing them with total energy solutions were the KPA. Capturing highly scientific and technical aspects in entertaining manner was the challenge. The campaign received enormous response, nearly 3000 messages per week. In 3 years, over 2000 students and … govt. departments participated.
The Radio serial named BBKB (August 2002 to … 2006 -- 184 episodes) ran on 50 AIR stations in 6 languages. TV serial KKMBD (May 2003 to May 2006 --158 episodes) also had 26 episodes each in Tamil and Asamiya. This has generated a clip bank with nealy 1500 audio-vedio clips on conservation aspects which is a rich asset. The project has sensitised and activated millions of youth into energy conservation and environment protection. It has paved way to launch a 2nd media project with triple the budget.
The project :-
Introduction
PCRA (Petrolium Conservation Research Association) under the Ministry of Petroleum is established since 1976 and carries out programmes of energy audit, research and media campaign. It is known for organising Oil Conservation Fortnight in January every year. It employees engineers from oil sector on deputation. Average staff distribution is 30 officers at head office, 5 each at four regional offices and one each at 30 field offices in major cities. The budget for 2001-2002 was around 18 crores.
On joining as head of PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) in July 2002, Smt. Leena Mehendale worked to revamp it. She focussed on Innovation, System change, Training and Team building. A cyclic relationship was established in which Media Campaign, Energy Audits, Research, and T/T (Training and Team-building) have each provided, input and feed-back to the other three. The totalistic view ensured that these programmes were in tune with other Government sector programmes.
Innovations undertaken :-
Initial brainstorming exercises in PCRA resulted in shifting its education campaign programs towards audio-visual media - the most effective communication tool for reaching out to each household of the country. Innovative media campaign was undertaken for reaching the message of energy conservation all over the country. A 3 year project was envisaged.
Campaign started with a weekly Radio serial named "Boond Boond ki Baat" which ran in prime hours of Monday morning 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. It entwined half hour tips and messages, do's and donts for fuel conservation in vehicles and drew tremendous response from janta commuting to office. Its lead role petro uncle became a popular name.
This media campaign was taken to new heights by launching a weekly T.V. serial on Doordarshan titled "Khel Khel Mein Badalo Duniya". This innovative half hourly serial was backed with all types of integral ideas to promote conservation.
By now PCRA team firmly believed that energy conservation was not just switching off engines at red lights nor was it only reducing an industrialist’s bill by giving fuel saving solutions. It is a holistic approach towards energy efficiency. And energy efficiency is not only all about the technology nor mathematical jugglery, it concerns with attitude. Scientists have forecast that reserves of petroleum crude will be exhausted in 40 next years and we are in a world where living without petroleum products seems near impossible. Still the consumption can be effectively reduced by its judicious use. Each one of us need to be alert even about a drop of fuel wastage. That’s where attitude comes in.
Children and youths, the torchbearers of the country need to be made aware of the veracity (???) of petroleum conservation. Attitude building towards conservation amongst children can make a difference. Extensive brainstorming sessions were therefore held amongst PCRA officers, ministry officials and media persons to develop an electronic media program for imparting holistic education of energy efficiency that would be apt for the youths while at the same time making it acceptable for general mass as well.
Philosophy of the program
• Conservation must be addressed in its totality as energy conservation encompasses conservation of material, water, human resources, in short it needs improving overall efficiency.
• Entertainment in Radio and TV channel means much beyond film songs. Arousing curiosity is a powerful and effective substitute.
• Children / students will respond positively if they are told that they can change the world for better.
• Skill building leads to better maintenance that eventually leads to better conservation.
• Attitudinal change is a long process but it starts with a click when we can make people think.
• By creating familiarity with energy & environment sector, we can make children our ambassador for conservation.
• Continuous exposure to various aspects of conservation is needed for long term effectivity.
Challenge of producing a scientific and technical program
Main challenge was to produce educational programs dealing with relatively serious topics of scientific and technical nature. The conscious decision was to develop a weekly edutainment programs for the target group of children and youths. The TV program was in a quiz form wherein 2 schools groups of 4 participants each competed against each other. These schools were chosen from all over the country. To reach maximum number of households, AIR and Doordarshan were contracted for telecast, while DAVP did production. All views were taken on :-
• Naming the program.
• Duration of the program.
• Structure, theme & topics of the program.
• Bringing in nationalistic appeal to the program.
• Quality, acceptability by Radio / DD and its publicity.
• Production in limited budget.
• Work within the constraints of Govt. policy, delegation and work culture.
• Selection of producer, anchor
Overcoming the challenges
TV program --
The title “Khel Khel Mein Badlo Duniya” was itself a true reflection that it was meant to bring about attitudinal change and to sensitize each household in the matter of efficient energy utilization. The structure, format, packaging, treatment and target group of the program were so designed that it retained the educative value while offering entertainment to the viewers at the same time. The 30 minute Hindi program was packaged in 5 different segments of “Kuch Kar Dikhana Hei”, “Duniay Badalne Ki Baat”, “Aankdein Boltein Hein”, “Ek Choti Si Baat” and “Aaj Ka Sawal”.
The first segment of the program “Kuch Kar Dikhana Hei” had performances by two participating teams, in the form of skit, mimicry, dance-drama etc. on the topics of energy conservation, petroleum products, electricity, water, wild life, environment protection, ecology, social issues of national concern etc. As teams needed to write their scripts and rehearse for this segment, the entire school or college, along with the parents, teachers and staff, become a part of the conservation movement.
The second segment was named Duniya Badalne Ki Baat. It was felt that the present generation needs to be motivated and inspired by the works of real time stories of individuals or organizations who have made a great impact at a day to day or national level. This would ensure courage and conviction amongst them to initiate and accomplish the most difficult tasks in life. “Duniya Badalne Ki Baat” had two alternative structures. In the first format, were various success stories. The second format had vocation-based clips, giving hands-on demo. There is a large segment of underprivileged youths from the lower strata in our society, who have learnt the nuances of their profession by virtue of being in the trade from their so-called masters and who are going to fill the maintenance industry of the whole country in the coming years. But these youths need to be corrected and updated in finer technical points so that right type of skill will eventually leads to energy efficiency.
The third segment was “Aakdein Bolte Hein”. It dealt with various statistical facts & figures on natural resources & social issues, depicted in the form of graph / chart etc. They informed the viewers on various interesting topics relating to energy conservation. Simultaneously, our camera team interacted with public all over the country and asking them questions and making them aware of important conservation aspects.
The fourth segment was “Ek Chhoti Si Baat” - a conservation message delivered by a celebrity or newsreading on latest developments of hydrocarbon sector.
Finally, the half hour program had a question “Aaj Ka Sawal” sponsered by different govt. departments, which informed viewers on various schemes of those departments and allowed viewers to get cash awards from them.
The program was launched on Sunday, 18th May 2003 in channel 1 of Doordarshan at 15:30 hrs. and subsequently shifted to prime time of 11 Am on Sundays. By virtue of its educational values and crisp format, the program has received unprecedented success that can be gauged from the TRP rating that sored as high as 9 in specific Hindi belts, while the average TRP was between 4 & 4.5.
PCRA was successful in disseminating the importance of its approach of handling the mass awareness program through electronic media and thus a number of Ministries / Departments of Govt. of India and oil PUSs had extended their association with this program.
The program received large number of responses every week from a student to an adult, from a housewife to a business lady, from a farmer to an industrialist, from all walks of life.
The program of such educative nature is perhaps the only program that ran successfully for more than 3 years on a national channel. These programs give results in the long run to the citizens of the country.
Innovative media campaign was undertaken for reaching the message of energy conservation all over the country. Campaign started with a weekly Radio serial named "Boond Boond ki Baat" which ran in prime hours of Monday morning 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. It entwined half hour tips and messages, do's and donts for fuel conservation in vehicles and drew tremendous response from janta commuting to office. Its lead role petro uncle became a popular name.
This media campaign was taken to new heights by launching a weekly T.V. serial on Doordarshan titled "Khel Khel Mein Badalo Duniya". This innovative half hourly serial was backed with all types of integral ideas to promote conservation.
The highlights of two programmes are :-
i) Together they generated responses from nearly 3000 viewers per week.
ii) The were highly scientific and educative and yet entertaining, confirming my view that electronic media can and must play a big role in propogating education - primary, vocational, technical and higher.
iii) Both contained stories of new researches in energy conservation, energy audit methodologies hands-on training tips for proper maintenance, practices required in industries such as steam traps, belts, vehicle maintenance etc. They also covered PCRA's cluster approach on energy conservation in glass, steel and other industries.
iv) The rating received for both these programmes was Excellent.
v) They were supported by other minor programmes such as
a. One PCRA page in 30 children magazines
b. Another T.V. serial named "Sanrakshan Yog" focussing on work efficiency for conservation, based on Bhagwatgeeta message of योगः कर्णसु कौशलम्
c. A conservation rally for women driving 2 wheelers in major cities during Energy Conservation fortnight.
d. PCRA monthly Hindi journal संरक्षण चेतना
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2002-2005
Summery :-
Energy conservation is one of the prime aspects of Energy security. Towards this objective, innovative use of audio-visual media, namely Radio and TV serials, was the high-point of PCRA’s conservation project during 2002-2005. Outreaching youth for attitude building and familiarizing them with total energy solutions were the KPA. Capturing highly scientific and technical aspects in entertaining manner was the challenge. The campaign received enormous response, nearly 3000 messages per week. In 3 years, over 2000 students and … govt. departments participated.
The Radio serial named BBKB (August 2002 to … 2006 -- 184 episodes) ran on 50 AIR stations in 6 languages. TV serial KKMBD (May 2003 to May 2006 --158 episodes) also had 26 episodes each in Tamil and Asamiya. This has generated a clip bank with nealy 1500 audio-vedio clips on conservation aspects which is a rich asset. The project has sensitised and activated millions of youth into energy conservation and environment protection. It has paved way to launch a 2nd media project with triple the budget.
The project :-
Introduction
PCRA (Petrolium Conservation Research Association) under the Ministry of Petroleum is established since 1976 and carries out programmes of energy audit, research and media campaign. It is known for organising Oil Conservation Fortnight in January every year. It employees engineers from oil sector on deputation. Average staff distribution is 30 officers at head office, 5 each at four regional offices and one each at 30 field offices in major cities. The budget for 2001-2002 was around 18 crores.
On joining as head of PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) in July 2002, Smt. Leena Mehendale worked to revamp it. She focussed on Innovation, System change, Training and Team building. A cyclic relationship was established in which Media Campaign, Energy Audits, Research, and T/T (Training and Team-building) have each provided, input and feed-back to the other three. The totalistic view ensured that these programmes were in tune with other Government sector programmes.
Innovations undertaken :-
Initial brainstorming exercises in PCRA resulted in shifting its education campaign programs towards audio-visual media - the most effective communication tool for reaching out to each household of the country. Innovative media campaign was undertaken for reaching the message of energy conservation all over the country. A 3 year project was envisaged.
Campaign started with a weekly Radio serial named "Boond Boond ki Baat" which ran in prime hours of Monday morning 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. It entwined half hour tips and messages, do's and donts for fuel conservation in vehicles and drew tremendous response from janta commuting to office. Its lead role petro uncle became a popular name.
This media campaign was taken to new heights by launching a weekly T.V. serial on Doordarshan titled "Khel Khel Mein Badalo Duniya". This innovative half hourly serial was backed with all types of integral ideas to promote conservation.
By now PCRA team firmly believed that energy conservation was not just switching off engines at red lights nor was it only reducing an industrialist’s bill by giving fuel saving solutions. It is a holistic approach towards energy efficiency. And energy efficiency is not only all about the technology nor mathematical jugglery, it concerns with attitude. Scientists have forecast that reserves of petroleum crude will be exhausted in 40 next years and we are in a world where living without petroleum products seems near impossible. Still the consumption can be effectively reduced by its judicious use. Each one of us need to be alert even about a drop of fuel wastage. That’s where attitude comes in.
Children and youths, the torchbearers of the country need to be made aware of the veracity (???) of petroleum conservation. Attitude building towards conservation amongst children can make a difference. Extensive brainstorming sessions were therefore held amongst PCRA officers, ministry officials and media persons to develop an electronic media program for imparting holistic education of energy efficiency that would be apt for the youths while at the same time making it acceptable for general mass as well.
Philosophy of the program
• Conservation must be addressed in its totality as energy conservation encompasses conservation of material, water, human resources, in short it needs improving overall efficiency.
• Entertainment in Radio and TV channel means much beyond film songs. Arousing curiosity is a powerful and effective substitute.
• Children / students will respond positively if they are told that they can change the world for better.
• Skill building leads to better maintenance that eventually leads to better conservation.
• Attitudinal change is a long process but it starts with a click when we can make people think.
• By creating familiarity with energy & environment sector, we can make children our ambassador for conservation.
• Continuous exposure to various aspects of conservation is needed for long term effectivity.
Challenge of producing a scientific and technical program
Main challenge was to produce educational programs dealing with relatively serious topics of scientific and technical nature. The conscious decision was to develop a weekly edutainment programs for the target group of children and youths. The TV program was in a quiz form wherein 2 schools groups of 4 participants each competed against each other. These schools were chosen from all over the country. To reach maximum number of households, AIR and Doordarshan were contracted for telecast, while DAVP did production. All views were taken on :-
• Naming the program.
• Duration of the program.
• Structure, theme & topics of the program.
• Bringing in nationalistic appeal to the program.
• Quality, acceptability by Radio / DD and its publicity.
• Production in limited budget.
• Work within the constraints of Govt. policy, delegation and work culture.
• Selection of producer, anchor
Overcoming the challenges
TV program --
The title “Khel Khel Mein Badlo Duniya” was itself a true reflection that it was meant to bring about attitudinal change and to sensitize each household in the matter of efficient energy utilization. The structure, format, packaging, treatment and target group of the program were so designed that it retained the educative value while offering entertainment to the viewers at the same time. The 30 minute Hindi program was packaged in 5 different segments of “Kuch Kar Dikhana Hei”, “Duniay Badalne Ki Baat”, “Aankdein Boltein Hein”, “Ek Choti Si Baat” and “Aaj Ka Sawal”.
The first segment of the program “Kuch Kar Dikhana Hei” had performances by two participating teams, in the form of skit, mimicry, dance-drama etc. on the topics of energy conservation, petroleum products, electricity, water, wild life, environment protection, ecology, social issues of national concern etc. As teams needed to write their scripts and rehearse for this segment, the entire school or college, along with the parents, teachers and staff, become a part of the conservation movement.
The second segment was named Duniya Badalne Ki Baat. It was felt that the present generation needs to be motivated and inspired by the works of real time stories of individuals or organizations who have made a great impact at a day to day or national level. This would ensure courage and conviction amongst them to initiate and accomplish the most difficult tasks in life. “Duniya Badalne Ki Baat” had two alternative structures. In the first format, were various success stories. The second format had vocation-based clips, giving hands-on demo. There is a large segment of underprivileged youths from the lower strata in our society, who have learnt the nuances of their profession by virtue of being in the trade from their so-called masters and who are going to fill the maintenance industry of the whole country in the coming years. But these youths need to be corrected and updated in finer technical points so that right type of skill will eventually leads to energy efficiency.
The third segment was “Aakdein Bolte Hein”. It dealt with various statistical facts & figures on natural resources & social issues, depicted in the form of graph / chart etc. They informed the viewers on various interesting topics relating to energy conservation. Simultaneously, our camera team interacted with public all over the country and asking them questions and making them aware of important conservation aspects.
The fourth segment was “Ek Chhoti Si Baat” - a conservation message delivered by a celebrity or newsreading on latest developments of hydrocarbon sector.
Finally, the half hour program had a question “Aaj Ka Sawal” sponsered by different govt. departments, which informed viewers on various schemes of those departments and allowed viewers to get cash awards from them.
The program was launched on Sunday, 18th May 2003 in channel 1 of Doordarshan at 15:30 hrs. and subsequently shifted to prime time of 11 Am on Sundays. By virtue of its educational values and crisp format, the program has received unprecedented success that can be gauged from the TRP rating that sored as high as 9 in specific Hindi belts, while the average TRP was between 4 & 4.5.
PCRA was successful in disseminating the importance of its approach of handling the mass awareness program through electronic media and thus a number of Ministries / Departments of Govt. of India and oil PUSs had extended their association with this program.
The program received large number of responses every week from a student to an adult, from a housewife to a business lady, from a farmer to an industrialist, from all walks of life.
The program of such educative nature is perhaps the only program that ran successfully for more than 3 years on a national channel. These programs give results in the long run to the citizens of the country.
Innovative media campaign was undertaken for reaching the message of energy conservation all over the country. Campaign started with a weekly Radio serial named "Boond Boond ki Baat" which ran in prime hours of Monday morning 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. It entwined half hour tips and messages, do's and donts for fuel conservation in vehicles and drew tremendous response from janta commuting to office. Its lead role petro uncle became a popular name.
This media campaign was taken to new heights by launching a weekly T.V. serial on Doordarshan titled "Khel Khel Mein Badalo Duniya". This innovative half hourly serial was backed with all types of integral ideas to promote conservation.
The highlights of two programmes are :-
i) Together they generated responses from nearly 3000 viewers per week.
ii) The were highly scientific and educative and yet entertaining, confirming my view that electronic media can and must play a big role in propogating education - primary, vocational, technical and higher.
iii) Both contained stories of new researches in energy conservation, energy audit methodologies hands-on training tips for proper maintenance, practices required in industries such as steam traps, belts, vehicle maintenance etc. They also covered PCRA's cluster approach on energy conservation in glass, steel and other industries.
iv) The rating received for both these programmes was Excellent.
v) They were supported by other minor programmes such as
a. One PCRA page in 30 children magazines
b. Another T.V. serial named "Sanrakshan Yog" focussing on work efficiency for conservation, based on Bhagwatgeeta message of योगः कर्णसु कौशलम्
c. A conservation rally for women driving 2 wheelers in major cities during Energy Conservation fortnight.
d. PCRA monthly Hindi journal संरक्षण चेतना
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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
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
Monday, July 14, 2008
Biodiesel, an emerging renewable source.
Conservation of fossil fuels :
Biodiesel, an emerging renewable source.
-------- Leena Mehendale
Principle Secretary, GAD,
Maharashtra
Twentieth Century saw an extensive use of fossil fuels all over the world, the innovations of hundreds and thousands of different uses for petroleum & natural gas has led to a significant increase in the need for fossil fuel in the world. A growing number of scientific researchers and political leaders have urged prompt conservation of fossil fuels by investing immediately in energy-efficient vehicles, machinery, and structures and by gradually shifting to alternative sources of energy. The reason most commonly given in support of fossil fuel conservation is that “Petroleum Resources are finite” and “the need to prevent future global climate change”. Most of these arguments say, “fossil fuels provide about 95 percent of the commercial energy used in the world economy”..... “Combustion of those fuels constitutes the largest source of emissions of climate-altering greenhouse gases”. Most scientists agree that such emissions cannot be continued indefinitely at current or increasing levels without causing devastating effects on ecosystems and on people. Electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil has led to high concentrations of harmful gases in the atmosphere. This has in turn led to many problems being faced today such as ozone depletion global warming and Tsunami.
The consumption of non-renewable sources of energy, thus, has caused more environmental damage than any other human activity. Therefore, alternative sources of energy have become very important and relevant to today’s world. These sources, such as the sun and wind, can never be exhausted and therefore are renewable. They cause less emission and are available locally. Their use can, to a large extent, reduce chemical, radioactive, and thermal pollution. They stand out as a viable source of clean and limitless energy, as a source of non-conventional energy. Most of the renewable sources of energy are fairly non-polluting and considered clean.
In Indian context, “Bio-diesel”, as a source of alternative and renewable source of energy has started gaining momentum in a big way. Biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) is a cleaner burning diesel replacement, made from natural, renewable sources such as Tree Borne Oilseed and Animal Fats. Just like petroleum diesel, bio-diesel also operates in compression-ignition engines, in fact the first ever such engine invented by the German scientist Diesel used peanut oil for fuel. Blends of up to 20% bio-diesel (mixed with petroleum diesel) can be used in nearly all diesel equipments and are compatible with most storage and distribution equipments. These low-level blends (20% and less) generally do not require any engine modifications. Bio-diesel can provide the same payload capacity as diesel.
Jatropha Curcas has been identified for India as the most suitable Tree Borne Oilseed (TBO) for production of bio-diesel both in view of the non-edible oil available from it and its presence all throughout the country. The capacity of Jatropha Curcas to rehabilitate degraded or dry lands, from which the poor derive their sustenance, by improving land’s water retention capacity, makes it additionally suitable for up-gradation of land resources. Presently, in some Indian villages, farmers are extracting oil from Jatropha and after settling and decanting it, they are mixing the filtered oil with diesel fuel. Although, so far the farmers have not observed any damage to their machinery, yet this remains to be tested and PCRA-like institutes alongwith agro-mechanical divisions of various agricultural universities must start working on it.
The fact remains that for use in modern machinery as well as for mixing and storage this oil needs to be converted to bio-diesel though a chemical reaction, called “Trans-Esterification”. This reaction is relatively simple and does not require any exotic material. The R&D Division of IOCL has been using a laboratory scale plant of 100 kg/day capacity for trans-esterification and designing of larger capacity plants is being worked out in Anand Univ. Gujrat, Delhi Univ and IIP, Dehradun. PCRA has developed institutional linkages for research & development with these R&D Institutes. With this initiative, suitable technology & equipments for esterification of bio-diesel on small & medium scales have also been developed. A few industries have done experimental production even at 50 tonnes a day. These larger plants are useful for centralized production of bio-diesel though it can be continued in smaller capacity plants of .5 to 20kg/day at decentralized level in villages till the optimum levels are not worked out. These kind of small plants can be a way out to provide energy security to our remote and rural areas, while it would also contribute towards employment generation.
As such, all kinds of Tree Borne Oilseeds, be it edible or no-edible can be used as a raw material for production of bio-diesel. But from the Indian point of view we are yet to meet our current demand of edible oils, hence the option left out for India is non-edible oilseeds.
With sky rocketing crude oil prices, what is required now is to spread the knowledge of this system and debug some crucial fiscal issues like taxation policy, tax holidays and subsidies, import concessions to palm crude oil. In addition more attention is needed on developing agro-economic practices and CDM mechanism, so that this source of alternative energy can be exploited to its fullest extent in our country.
Biodiesel, an emerging renewable source.
-------- Leena Mehendale
Principle Secretary, GAD,
Maharashtra
Twentieth Century saw an extensive use of fossil fuels all over the world, the innovations of hundreds and thousands of different uses for petroleum & natural gas has led to a significant increase in the need for fossil fuel in the world. A growing number of scientific researchers and political leaders have urged prompt conservation of fossil fuels by investing immediately in energy-efficient vehicles, machinery, and structures and by gradually shifting to alternative sources of energy. The reason most commonly given in support of fossil fuel conservation is that “Petroleum Resources are finite” and “the need to prevent future global climate change”. Most of these arguments say, “fossil fuels provide about 95 percent of the commercial energy used in the world economy”..... “Combustion of those fuels constitutes the largest source of emissions of climate-altering greenhouse gases”. Most scientists agree that such emissions cannot be continued indefinitely at current or increasing levels without causing devastating effects on ecosystems and on people. Electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil has led to high concentrations of harmful gases in the atmosphere. This has in turn led to many problems being faced today such as ozone depletion global warming and Tsunami.
The consumption of non-renewable sources of energy, thus, has caused more environmental damage than any other human activity. Therefore, alternative sources of energy have become very important and relevant to today’s world. These sources, such as the sun and wind, can never be exhausted and therefore are renewable. They cause less emission and are available locally. Their use can, to a large extent, reduce chemical, radioactive, and thermal pollution. They stand out as a viable source of clean and limitless energy, as a source of non-conventional energy. Most of the renewable sources of energy are fairly non-polluting and considered clean.
In Indian context, “Bio-diesel”, as a source of alternative and renewable source of energy has started gaining momentum in a big way. Biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) is a cleaner burning diesel replacement, made from natural, renewable sources such as Tree Borne Oilseed and Animal Fats. Just like petroleum diesel, bio-diesel also operates in compression-ignition engines, in fact the first ever such engine invented by the German scientist Diesel used peanut oil for fuel. Blends of up to 20% bio-diesel (mixed with petroleum diesel) can be used in nearly all diesel equipments and are compatible with most storage and distribution equipments. These low-level blends (20% and less) generally do not require any engine modifications. Bio-diesel can provide the same payload capacity as diesel.
Jatropha Curcas has been identified for India as the most suitable Tree Borne Oilseed (TBO) for production of bio-diesel both in view of the non-edible oil available from it and its presence all throughout the country. The capacity of Jatropha Curcas to rehabilitate degraded or dry lands, from which the poor derive their sustenance, by improving land’s water retention capacity, makes it additionally suitable for up-gradation of land resources. Presently, in some Indian villages, farmers are extracting oil from Jatropha and after settling and decanting it, they are mixing the filtered oil with diesel fuel. Although, so far the farmers have not observed any damage to their machinery, yet this remains to be tested and PCRA-like institutes alongwith agro-mechanical divisions of various agricultural universities must start working on it.
The fact remains that for use in modern machinery as well as for mixing and storage this oil needs to be converted to bio-diesel though a chemical reaction, called “Trans-Esterification”. This reaction is relatively simple and does not require any exotic material. The R&D Division of IOCL has been using a laboratory scale plant of 100 kg/day capacity for trans-esterification and designing of larger capacity plants is being worked out in Anand Univ. Gujrat, Delhi Univ and IIP, Dehradun. PCRA has developed institutional linkages for research & development with these R&D Institutes. With this initiative, suitable technology & equipments for esterification of bio-diesel on small & medium scales have also been developed. A few industries have done experimental production even at 50 tonnes a day. These larger plants are useful for centralized production of bio-diesel though it can be continued in smaller capacity plants of .5 to 20kg/day at decentralized level in villages till the optimum levels are not worked out. These kind of small plants can be a way out to provide energy security to our remote and rural areas, while it would also contribute towards employment generation.
As such, all kinds of Tree Borne Oilseeds, be it edible or no-edible can be used as a raw material for production of bio-diesel. But from the Indian point of view we are yet to meet our current demand of edible oils, hence the option left out for India is non-edible oilseeds.
With sky rocketing crude oil prices, what is required now is to spread the knowledge of this system and debug some crucial fiscal issues like taxation policy, tax holidays and subsidies, import concessions to palm crude oil. In addition more attention is needed on developing agro-economic practices and CDM mechanism, so that this source of alternative energy can be exploited to its fullest extent in our country.
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