COIMBATORE: Most of the rural and urban self-help groups (SHGs) without access to modern energy sources live in poverty. The lack of available energy services is closely related to poverty indicators, K. Sathia Jothi Kamaraj, President of the Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Development (NERD) Society, said here recently.
Launching an awareness programme for SHGs on the Ministry of Environment and Forest’s campaign on selecting an Indian Environmental Ambassador, she said till date, poverty had received scant attention from an energy perspective.
The carbon dioxide generated by human activities was responsible for more than 55 per cent of global warming, Ms. Sathia Jothi observed.
Understanding
NERD Society was promoting the use of improved cooking apparatus, solar cookers, and biogas among SHGs to create an understanding about energy conservation. Biomass energy technologies were a promising option for developing countries. The Society had also undertaken Thalingi, a tribal settlement in Udumalpet, for environment-friendly electrification and cooking with biogas.
Emissions
Carbon dioxide emissions increased by one per cent very year. “Each time we use electricity, green house gases are released into the atmosphere. By turning off lights, television, and computer when not in use, we can help cut down these emissions,” she said.
Walking and using bicycles would also help, she added. NERD Society was planning to provide all rural households with improved smokeless firewood cooking stoves and all urban SHGs with energy efficient CFL lamps.
About 2,000 SHGs promoted by the Society would be involved in spreading awareness about climate change, its cause and effects.
They would also participate in the process for selection of a person to be a spokesperson on environmental issues.
The nominations would be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi, and the Indian Environmental Ambassador would be announced on June 2009.
