Its utility has not been realised fully, but solar power can be of much use to those sections of society that consume electricity the least. A great example would be nomadic ayurvedic medicine vendor Mahendra Singh Chittoriya of Bhusawal in Maharashtra, who relies on solar power for all his needs.
Mr. Chittoriya has set up his makeshift system at Indervelli and taps the renewable energy by keeping a solar panel at one of its corners. He has no use for lighting as the summer brightness is all pervading, but a small loudspeaker placed close to the panel uses power from the battery to give out, in low volume, a recorded message about the herbal medicines he sells.
Dry battery
“During the day, I need to run the recorded message. The battery is fully charged by the evening to light a 60-watt bulb for us to cook and eat at night, and watch the portable TV for a few hours,” the nomadic salesman reveals. The solar panel came to the rescue of Mr. Chittoriya five years ago when he replaced the comparatively high maintenance dry battery which used to cost him about ₹8,000 and last only 18 months. “I purchased a second-hand battery for ₹1,600 and the solar panel for ₹6,500, but the contraption lasts for over two years and I do not have to charge the battery every other day,” he says.
The solar power unit can be of use to all nomadic people who keep criss-crossing the country in search of livelihood. “The manufacturers can help by producing contraptions suiting the need of respective nomads,” Mr. Chittoriya suggests.
