Mumbai: Stubble burning in farmlands has often hit headlines for the havoc that it causes. The process of burning stubbles after the harvest season spikes pollution, putting the lives of people at stake. Though the governments have banned stubble burning, all the laws remain on paper. The farmers prefer burning the stubble because it is way easier and convenient compared to the scientific processing of the same. However, recent research by a well-known, internationally acclaimed researcher. Priyadarshini Karve is being looked at as a solution for the stubble-burning menace.
Her ‘steam stoves’ are a blessing for the country that has been smothered by stubble burning. These stoves convert Agri waste into Biochar Fuel and so far she has successfully sold over 60,000 steam stoves. But which are not just user-friendly but are also user-friendly.
Who is Priyadarshini Karve?
Priyadarshini Karve was born in 1971 at Phaltan in Maharashtra. After early schooling in her native town, she pursued her M.Sc. (Physics with Specialisation: Energy Studies, Laser ) from the prestigious University of Pune in 1993. After her post-graduation, she pursued her Ph.D. (Physics) from the University of Pune, and as a physics student, she took up a three-month project on developing sustainable cooking technology in rural households.
At a young age, she had to her credit making her first innovation- cooking technology for rural households using sawdust and sand. Her understanding of the challenges faced by the rural women, her interest in developing a cheap alternative sustainable cooking technology made her work with Appropriate Rural Technology Institute, an NGO based in Maharashtra.
She started her experiments with cooking stove designs and biomass fuels. Later, she worked on making access to biomass energy technologies to the rural people. It can be recalled that she was part of the team of researchers who developed the biowaste-to-charcoal technology in India. This invention was recognized with the Ashden Award for Renewable Energy in 2002.
Since 2005 she has been heading the Samuchit EnviroTech Pvt Ltd (SET), Pune as the Managing Director. From 2011, she has been serving the Board of Directors, Nexus Carbon for Development Singapore. A not-for-profit international alliance of NGOs and social enterprises as the chairperson. But she is the resource person for various national, international seminars, symposiums, and research initiatives. She is also serving the Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (Symbiosis International University), Pune as a visiting professor and her subjects include Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Impact of Science and Technology on History, renewable energy, sustainable development, and other social and educational issues.
Revolutionising rural landscapes
Through ‘Samuchit Enviro-Tech, and as a researcher she has developed a number of clean cooking technologies. But which are key to making households carbon-free. Her decentralized “organic waste to fuel” technologies, and biochar-based products, is revolutionizing rural households. But the raw materials used for this equipment are locally available like gardens, farms, etc. One of the unique features of her research. And also development is that all the products developed by her are user-centric technology. An avid writer, she pens her thoughts in her blog Sustainable life.
The Black Gold
The Steam Stove is the outcome of hard work spanning over two decades. She started working on the solution for Agri waste in general and stubble burning in specific since 1997. Biochar is considered as the new ‘Black Gold’. But which has the potential to improve soil fertility. Being carbon-neutral, Biochar helps mitigate climate change, but which is the biggest challenge in front of the human race.
Major products developed by her include char briquettes, organic deodorizer, char soap, trashflasher kiln, household biogas plant, steam cooker stove, sampada gasifier stove, ELFD sampada smokeless stove, and fixed smokeless stove mould and accessories.
Recognitions
Tens of national and international awards have been conferred to Priyadarshini Karve for her research and development. The important among them are Ashden Award for Renewable Energy – 2002, Prof. Yashwantrao Kelkar Youth Award – 2002, Adishakti Award 2007 in the category of ‘Research’ presented by Bansilal Ramnath Agrawal Charitable Trust, Pune (2007), nominated for Pulotsav Youth Award 2008 in the category of ‘Literature’ presented by P.L. Deshpande Memorial Foundation (2008), Award for Best Paper in ‘Energy and Gender Equitable Development’ Section in the Tenth World Renewable Energy Congress, held at Glasgow, UK (2008). She was invited to contribute an autobiographical sketch to ‘Leelawati’s Daughters’, published by Indian National Science Academy (2008).
The book is a compilation of biographical sketches of 100 leading women researchers in India. Other awards and recognitions include Avani Mitra Award 2010-11, member of Technical Committee for ‘Energy and Gender Equitable Development’ Section and Workshop for the World Renewable Energy Congress in 2008, 2010, and ‘Energy and Gender’ Section and Workshop for World Renewable Energy Forum in 2012, Kirtan Sanjeevani Pushpalata Ranade National Woman Award 2011 for ‘Socially Relevant Research’, presented by Kirtankar Pushpalata Ranade Memorial Trust, Pune (2011), Sahyadri Hirkani Award 2011 for ‘Research’, presented by Mumbai Doordarshan (2012), Pune’s Pride Award 2013 in ‘Innovation’ category, presented by Residency Club, Pune (2013), and Vasundhara Sanman 2014, honour for work on environmental issues, presented by Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival (2014)
