The Social Work Research Centre (SWRC), a voluntary agency based in Tilonia, Rajasthan, has stolen a march over the government by installing the country's first solar-powered Rural Automatic Exchange.
In the early '70s, a telephone line was installed linking Tilonia with Kishangarh, 15 km away. However, the this link rarely worked. SWRC persuaded Sam Pitroda, the technology advisor to the Prime Minister, during his visit to the village this year, into speeding up the process for the approval of such an exchange. Once the project was approved, SWRC acted promptly, dispensing with many of the usual lengthy pre-feasability studies and technical reports.
The Rs 3.36 lakh exchange, which will be operational by the end of June, consists of 32 40-watt solar panels that will charge 16 batteries to supply uninterrupted power to the exchange. The panels are estimated to last 20 years. The exchange can operate 80 local lines and 24 trunk lines and is linked to Harmara, 15 km away. Although Harmara already had an exchange, its 18 subscribers opted for the Tilonia exchange, seduced by uninterrupted power supply. Interestingly, professional engineers were not employed for the project, which was set up by rural youth who will also be responsible for the exchange's maintenance.
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