It has been proved yet again that Indians are one of the brainiest in the world. An Indian Canadian has been awarded the Sasakawa Prize of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme). The prize was awarded for the brilliant devise designed my Nuru Design which involved a portable light that could be easily recharged by twenty minutes of peddling. This project was aimed at the rural areas in India where electricity is still a major concern.
This project was headed by Sameer Hajee who is a social entrepreneur and a Canadian national with his origins in India and Kenya. The award was presented in Bali. Here, Hajee announced that the project is on a testing phase in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. He said that by the year end, around 300,000 units are expected to be put in place. This project was also subject to a field test in Rwanda, Africa.
This portable device has been named the Nuru light. It has a pedal generator known as the Nuru Powercycle which helps in the recharging of the light. As per the statement issued by the UNEP, twenty minutes of peddling could easily recharge five Nuru lights which could then be used for two weeks completely.
The prize money would be used by the firm to implement these systems in India and other African nations such as Burundi, Uganda and Kenya. India is aimed to be the largest market and one in dire need of such projects.
The main purpose behind the Nuru Light is to make it a substitute for the costly, pollutant and unhealthy kerosene lamps which is one of the main sources of light for the villages in India.
Additionally, the model has been amended slightly for marketing purposes that would be executed in those areas where power supply is the most unpredictable. Post this; many rural franchisees would take charge of implementing it in other villages. Each cycle or devise would cost around Rs. 7500 and the POD or the portable on demand light would be available for Rs. 250.
This clearly has given light to the Green Economy of the future, as per Achim Steiner, the Executive Director for UNEP.
