Development Alternatives' work with village communities in Bundelkhand has brought forth the advantage of looking at possible breakthroughs from the user’s perspective within a local market based framework. This, necessarily, places greater emphasis on the products and services that will be supplied through small enterprises in response to demand expressed by specific segments of the rural population. A deeper understanding of present user behaviour and future trends assumes importance and influences the otherwise technology led approach to design of solutions.

Development Alternatives focusses in biomass energy to meet domestic needs for clean energy and lighting needs. SHELL Foundation has committed support to a project aimed at addressing the concerns of women and child health that are linked to inefficient, unreliable and polluting energy practices. The focus of the project is on designing a model that services energy needs of rural households and communities. It will create an enterprise support system and strengthen livelihoods so that these energy based services can be available to village families at their doorsteps at an affordable price and sustainable basis.
 

The project team designed and carried out an "Energy Use and Demand Survey" in March-April 2003. In addition to a clearer understanding of energy use patterns referred to earlier, the survey sought to gather information on the criteria that families use for switchover to alternative energy products and services.

The survey was conduced on a stratified random sample of 10% families in 23 villages of 4 clusters Datia, Jhansi, Radhapur and Niwari. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools were used for mapping and ranking of energy products/services.
 

One of the more interesting and significant outcomes of the survey was that differences exist between clusters. In Datia, for example, a surprisingly high number of families use Ipomea for firewood. On an average, each family spends Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 (US $ 4 to 6) per month on electricity for lighting in spite of the fact that it is tapped from overhead cables and supply is highly unreliable. It became apparent that families would be ready to spend similar amounts to vendors supplying re-chargeable battery lanterns.

In Lakara and Pahalgaon near Jhansi several families expressed interest in getting power with which they could irrigate land. In Rampura village of this cluster the village community initiated dialogue about setting up a biomass based gasifier to produce electricity. They hope to use the abundant stock of Ipomea growing around their village.

Contrary to the project team’s expectations, villagers in Radhapur, made queries about Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and wanted to know whether LPG and related services would be made available. They stressed the need for a high quality solution and indicated their willingness to pay for better solutions if prices were similar to those of LPG.

Several villages in Niwari discussed various uses of Ipomea on account of its easy availability and in Kachipura, the possibility of an energy plantation was explored.

In general "safai" and "suvidha" (cleanliness and convenience) came through high priorities for most families and many people said that they would be able to use better devices and products if small loans were made available.
 

The project team confirmed earlier assessments that approximately 85% of all families in the 23 villages used open fire clay cook stoves. The cook-stoves are C-shaped, fixed clay structures with single outlets. The size of these cook-stoves is more or less the same in most of the households in all the clusters. These are between 8-10 inches diameter. These clay stoves are cleaned and polished with clay every evening. The stoves are located outdoors (for 4 months) during summers and in some cases in winters as well and indoors (for 8 months) during rains and winters. In case of emergency, both the indoor and outdoor cook-stoves are used.

Cook-stoves are generally used for 1-4 hours per day for preparation of two meals for an average family size of 5-8 members. The cooking time however, is not the same as the number of hours a cook-stove is used per day. It includes the meal preparation time as well as the fodder preparation time. The family size does not have a discernable correlation with the time spent on cooking and the hours of cook-stove-use per day. Any variation in the time spent on cooking and the hours of stove-use depends, according to the respondents, primarily on the firewood and dung-cakes, which take a long time to ignite (more so during rains and winters) and not so much on the size of the family. Cook-stove size also does not make much of a difference in the cooking time from family to family. This is because, as mentioned earlier, the cook-stove size variation is negligible.

Fuel used in cook-stoves in all clusters is dung-cakes, firewood and kerosene. Coal or any other fuel is not used. LPG is used among a few well off families.
 

The cost incurred (when bought) ranges between Rs. 20-100/- per month.
 

A combination of approximately 4-5 kgs firewood and 15-50 units of dung cakes are used for cooking two meals for an average family size of 8 people.

Firewood used is primarily Ipomea in combination with other available firewood. This is collected from nearby fields and surrounding areas every 2-5 days or every 30 days depending on available storage space and paying capacity of the family.

The storing place may be an open courtyard during the dry weather or the cattle shed. Paying capacity is a deciding factor because, those who can, pay for the carriage (in tractors) and those who own bullock carts, buy firewood in large quantities. Families enable to pay collect and/or buy in small quantities and carry the same on cycle or as head load.

Firewood used per day, i.e. for cooking two meals is approximately 4-5 kgs for which expenditure incurred ranges between Rs 50- 250/- per month. The difference in expenditure owes to the fact that (a) all families do not use ipomea (even teak wood is used clandistingly (b) the difference in quantity procured, i.e. in a few days or a few weeks.

The respondents were aware of the effect of the use of Ipomoea for firewood. They expressed the problems of kitchen walls and utensils as well as making cooking an inconvenient task due to the smoke. Families felt that ipomea causes skin and eye irritation, suffocation, cough and headaches. The forest cover in Datia region has almost disappeared thus the expenditure of scarce firewood is more than it has been seen in other clusters. This is thus a major part of the household expenditure.

Kerosene for cooking is used as a starter in cook-stoves. The expenditure incurred varies depending upon whether the family buys directly from the market or from the control shop. Households in all villages, except Haripur buy kerosene from the control shop.

In all villages, kerosene is bought for a month or for 45 days. The quantity used per month is 3-5 litres for which expenditure incurred is Rs. 45-55/- pm. This amount also varies season-to season. Winters and monsoon see an increase in this quantity as compared to the dry summers.

The monthly expenditure on kerosene is upto Rs. 100/- to take care of cook-stoves as well as for lighting.

According to all respondents, availability of new options would be welcome as none seemed totally satisfied with the fuel (for cook-stoves) currently being used.

In the Datia cluster, people are willing to pay for improved options at Rs. 100-Rs. 300/- pm., equal to or even more than the current expenditure on fuel as per perceived benefits. Some have even shown interest on paying as much as Rs. 2000/- for an improved cook-stove and devices. They have shown immense interest in investing in bio-gas, gasifier and solar cook-stoves and for lighting.

The number of bulbs used per household is 1-5 depending on the size of the house and the paying capacity. A 60 watt bulb is generally left lit for the entire night for the convenience of children and the old.
 

2. Kerosene Lamps

These lamps are colloquially called a `dibri’ is largely prevalent in the villages is a make-shift lamp which are made out of small (100-200 ml) bottles. A cotton rag through the cap serves as the wick. These do not have chimneys or handles. Atleast 90% households use a dibri since there is no initial investment.

Fuel used in a dibri is mostly kerosene but on occasions mustard oil is also used. Lamps with chimneys and lanterns are occasionally used by 10% of households.
 

The kitchens of almost 90 % respondents are seasonal in locations - situated outdoors for 4 months and indoors for 8 months (during rains and winters). Outdoor kitchens are generally semi-covered. According to the respondents the outdoor kitchens are ventilated (because of its location) whereas indoor kitchens are suffocating and smoky. Outdoor cooking mean that the cook-stoves are built at the corner of the verandah or the courtyard. These clay cook-stoves are fixed. Almost 80-90% of the respondents are not satisfied with the present kitchen design and the effect of fuel (used on cook-used) on the walls, utensils and health. The rest are indifferent because of unavailability of options, as according to them.

Irrespective of the economic status and caste, kitchens in this region are suffocating with little or no ventilation.

In all clusters, according to the respondents the best solution for lighting would be regular electricity supply, failing which they are interested in alternative lighting solutions. An average household pays for most of the fuel and lighting in cash. On an average each family spends approximately 10% of their monthly income on cooking fuel. For this same amount families are willing to switchover to more reliable options.

Smokeless fuel is a desired criteria. An improved lighting solution according to one respondent would facilitate them in setting up a ‘bidi’ (filterless cigarette with tobacco rolled in tendu leaf) unit. Some respondents also realize that an alternate solution would increase the study-hours of children.

In ‘Radhapur’ and Niwari cluster the buying criteria is an alternative which would be practical, convenient and could be used for setting up enterprises. Some respondents would also use the alternative lighting for TV’s/ videos. Another respondent also expressed his desire for setting up a computer kiosk. Most respondents are desirous of an improved kitchen and better, cleaner, convenient fuel for the cook-stoves, fuel which would be less expensive and would take less time to cook meals and lighting.

Families are ready to pay amounts ranging between Rs. 20-1000/- depending on their paying capacity. Some of the respondents were indifferent to any alternatives. Similarily In ‘near Jhansi’ cluster people have even expressed an interest in investing as much as Rs. 5000/for an improved kitchen. In many cases readiness to spend would depend on design and service available and equal to or less than the current expenditure on kitchen maintenance, which is in all probability, negligible.