Intro:- VK-NARDEP is an integral project of Vivekananda Kendra, started in 1986. It combines traditional wisdom and modern science and provides cost-effective alternative holistic solutions to the problems of modern living – especially for the rural communities.
Vivekananda Kendra – Natural Resources Development Project (VK- NARDEP) is an integral project of Vivekananda Kendra under the supervision of its Secretary, G Vasudeo. It was started in 1986 inspired by Indic vision of the seers: Isavasyam Itham Sarvam- All Existence is permeated by Divine and Swami Vivekananda's clarion call to uplift the downtrodden masses.
Kendra has sold and installed Ministry of Non-conventional & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt of India recognised 2,000 biogas plants in south Tamil Nadu to provide clean biogas for household cooking and fertiliser from the biogas residue since 1986. The southern part of Tamil Nadu is hot and humid. Most of the people work in agriculture and grow rice, sugar cane, mangoes, coconuts and a range of vegetables. The biogas plants sold by VK-NARDEP only use cattle manure to produce biogas which saves fuel wood which helps in cleaner cooking and provides healthier environment, with reduced air pollution and fly-borne diseases.
The organisation has also recognised the significant potential of the output residue from biogas plants. This is normally used directly as a fertiliser and weed suppressor which gives significant benefits in a rural agricultural environment. The value of the residue can be increased by using it to grow Azolla, a nitrogen-fixing fern used as animal fodder or green manure.
Alternatively, the residue can be made into an improved fertiliser using vermin-composting techniques. It also ensures financial savings by avoiding the purchase of wood and chemical fertiliser allow the cost of a biogas plant to be paid back within two to three years.
It has obtained a thorough understanding of the problems which exist amongst many current biogas installations in India through detailed field studies. It has developed a well researched low cost design as a result and is also able to specify the design of plants in accordance with a customer's needs.
The Programme is a uniquely Indian combination of spiritual centre and research institute, based at Kanyakumari in southern most India. It has been engaged in popularising rural technologies in energy efficient construction, watershed management, holistic health, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. It also coordinates networks of self-help groups among the villagers in the region.
Biogas systems take organic material such as cattle dung into an air-tight tank where bacteria break down the material and release biogas –a mixture of mainly methane with some carbon-dioxide. The biogas can be burned as a fuel, for cooking or other purposes, and the solid residue can be used as organic compost. The construction and sale of biogas plants is done by VK-NARDEP itself and was also commissioned to design the plant by the MNRE.
The programe works on diverse fields which are attached to its central axis of the concept of sustainable development and follows the below:
* Cost Effective Construction
* Renewable Energy
* Holistic Health
* Sustainable agriculture
* Water management and
* Inner Sustainability.
The eco-services of VK-NARDEP spanning a period of nearly quarter of a century and have earned it international reputation. Its contribution in the field of utilising renewable energy for sustainable development through food production (use of biogas and biogas slurry in agriculture) has won VK-NARDEP, the prestigeous Ashden award.
Prasad S Joshi (The writer is a Maharashtra-based journalist)
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