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Demonstration of Gaushalas as a Sustainable Hub to provide Methane Powered Energy Services to Rural Communities
T he Bundelkhand region bridges the border areas of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is also one of the most backward regions in India and rates very low on almost all development indicators. Apart from agriculture, livestock is a major source of livelihood for the people of Bundelkhand. As per the available statistics, this region has 1100 cattle per 1000 human beings, of which only 58 per cent of the cattle are milk producing. The region also has a fodder-based economy, which is now languishing due to poor productivity of land, perennial water scarcity, depleting groundwater and poor reliability of energy.Taking care of the cattle is a cultural imperative. Gaushalas (originally a cattle breeding cum milk production centres, but presently used as an old-age home for non productive/scrub cattle) were set up as early as 3000 years ago by rural communities. The entire culture of ancient India was Gau-Sanskriti, or a culture based on cows. Post-independence, as the reverence towards cattle declined, the government established Gaushalas where ‘uneconomic’ cattle could be housed cheaply and allowed to die a natural death. This model, however, turned out to be unsuccessful in the industrial economy as these Gaushalas suffer from problems that make their operations untenable. From October 2006 onwards the
energy team of DA started implementing an The proposed project will demonstrate that Gaushalas can be established as an effective hub for methane-powered energy services which propel agriculture, and fodder- and milk-based economies in selected villages of Bundelkhand. The long-term idea is to transform these charitable institutions (Gaushalas) from its present status as a cost centre to a profit centre, apart from capturing methane by using unused cattle dung, which is otherwise creating a disposal problem. In the proposed model, the institutionally run Gaushalas will be the hub where cattle waste will be utilised to produce thermal and electrical energy through biogas plants. This energy will be used to provide energy services for drinking water supply, irrigation and running of micro-enterprises (spice mills, flour mills, fodder mills, battery charging stations, etc.) on a user fee basis. The slurry will be transferred to the fields in order to produce high-quality organic compost which has a good commercial value. The assigned team were planned to fulfil the following objectives by September 2008: l To demonstrate the potential of utilising biodegradable waste of Gaushalas as a source of renewable energy powered services in rural areas l To implement an innovative commercial model of energy service provision with Gaushalas as the institution that manages the system l To establish the sustainability of the model by making it economically viable through activities that ensure enhanced revenue enhancement while providing value-based energy services to farmers and small businesses The uniqueness of the proposed project lies in: l Innovative institutional model for energy services l Innovative financial model that ensures viability l Reviving rural economy through energy driven livelihoods options In the last 15 months, the implementing team has identified three registered Gaushalas that are interested in this transformation process and ready to contribute their stake (in cash / kind). DA has signed MOUs with them for joint implementation, build their capacity and motivate them to ensure active participation for action research. Through the multi-stakeholder (Gaushala management, DA, technology supplier and the local community) participatory planning process, the team has prepared the blueprints of the implementation plan. A detailed Project Report has been submitted to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, to leverage the subsidy on 100 per cent gas engine. Local Self Help Groups (SHGs), common interest groups and individual beneficiaries were identified, revived, and formed so as to ensure enough energy off-take generated from these proposed power plant. A series of training and market development activities were conducted to enhance the Gaushala's earning. Till date, two power plants have been installed in two gaushalas. In Maurnipur Gaushala, there is a 45m 3 bio-digester capturing/supplying necessary methane to 12.5 KVA gas engine for 4 to 5 hours per day, whereas in Lalitpur Gaushala, one 20KVA gas engine is fuelled by 85m3 digested. These demonstration units are not only running a few power-driven mills but also spreading awareness among other potential gaushalas.Along with firsthand learning the challenges before the team are: (1) to develop a bigger local market for organic compost; (2) leveraging additional infrastructural fund to ensure engagement of more SHGs with their energy driven entrepreneurs; and (3) to derive a PPCP model to ensure mass replication of the developed Gaushala based ‘Energy Hub’ model. qManoj Mahata
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USAID supported project titled ‘Demonstration of Gaushalas as a
Sustainable Hub to Provide Methane Powered Energy Services to Rural
Communities’ in three locations of Uttar Pradesh under varied
conditions.