SEWA has been experimenting with improved cook stoves since 1986, and has undertaken various initiatives over the years. One of its earliest initiatives involved a partnership with JEDA to develop a brick and mud stove – a model that was cheaper than the stoves used by households at that time. The stove constituted a chimney that let the fumes outside the house thereby keeping the indoors cleaner. SEWA also trained some of its members in the construction and maintenance of these stoves, thereby creating a source of income for them.
SEWA’s next effort in cook stoves materialized after a partnership with SELCO. SEWA procured stoves from SELCO for its members. These stoves were an improvement over the brick and mud stoves, in the sense that they were movable and consumed less fuel. To facilitate easier uptake by its members, SEWA made available ‘energy loans’, wherein members (most of whom were from the Patan district of Gujarat) could pay a small down-payment and complete the rest of the payment through installments.
In 2008, SEWA partnered with the Rajasthan Agricultural University to develop and propagate a further improved cook stove. This was a cement and brick model, and improved upon the benefits of the previous stoves. Many households from the Vadodra district adopted these cook stoves.
In all, SEWA has encouraged as many as 1500 households to adopt the various improved versions of cook stoves and thereby realize significant health and economic benefits. A workforce of 8 grassroots members has been trained in the assembly, construction, upkeep and maintenance of these cook stoves.
It is SEWA’s intention to scale-up its efforts to cover a much larger segment of population.
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