Ratheesh
Kaliyadan
Jails are normally considered to be the Everest of
evils. Though the in mates are culprits before law, there are a lot of hearts
and minds work hard for some social change. The activities motivate in mates
and lead to transformation. Environment is one of the major areas of greening
the wounded minds. Kerala jails are shifting their attitude towards the
surroundings by producing electric power in a different way. The jails are
equipping t shine under solar panels. By the transformative move, jail
officials are making history and provide room for mother earth in the minds of
both in mates and the general public.
Kerala people depend Kerala State
Electricity Board to meet electricity. Apart from other states, Kerala villages
and townships use plenty of electricity for various purposes. In another words,
the life style of Keralites are redesigned by this power. Jails also use the
same energy for their daily activities. A paradigm shift had happened when the
authorities decided to utilize the solar energy to convert as electricity. Thus The Central
Prison in Thiruvananthapuram has become the first one in the country to depend
entirely on clean and renewable solar energy. The solar energy
project at the central prison at Poojappura in Thiruvananthapuram has been set
up at a cost of Rs. 7.9 crore. Street lighting and fans for the
block, steam cooking, chappathi making unit and water pumping will be powered
by solar energy. Nearly 229 KW of power is generated by the
project.
What are the positives of this change? At
first solar power ensures round clock supply of electricity which is a must as
far as a jail is concerned. Moreover, it assures twelve hour back up. Secondly
it reduced electricity bill at a large extent. The Kerala State Electricity
Board has charged Rs. 1.27 crores just before commissioning the solar panel in
central prison for electricity.
Is it a unique specialty of
poojappura Central Jail? The paradigm shift will be the face value of all the 51
jails. Hope fully, Rs.25.56 crore has en
earmarked for this, Alexander Jacob, ADGP (Prisons), said. The
Centre had sanctioned Rs.24 crore to mount solar panels on roofs of select
prisons to generate electricity The jail department has roped in the services
of Keltron and the Agency for Non-conventional
Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) to execute the projects. The effort is to make jails
‘modern’ and eco-friendly’.
There
is a byproduct for this shift in Poojappura central jail. The solar system
exhausts smoke from the jail campus. Smoke from kitchen was a big issue there.
The high walls and closed nature of prison buildings often prevented the quick escape of smoke to the atmosphere. It
generated health issues. Respiratory problems were common among prisoners and
staff. The solar panels now prevent prisoners and staffs from smoke. The
commercial bread and chappathi making unit is rejuvenated by solar power. The
speed of production increased. Smoke free kitchen provides new energy also.
Kerala
jails point out to an innovative sector in energy production and protection.
Various commercial and non commercial activities and educational initiatives
lead to a transformation among prisoners. Thanks to educational ventures
including Indira Gandhi National Open University, the jails produced highly
qualified persons among the inmates who attain Master in Business
Administration and PhD. This torch light will have to enlighten other
organizations to meet the increasing demand of electric power by tuning the
mindset to the solar power.
( This article is supported by the media fellowship instituted by
Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi)
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