Case For Rural Eelctric Cooperatives In India All over the world rural people get the life giving electrical energy till so long after all other segments of the economy have been served. This was true of the U. S. A. untill less than 30 years ago and it is still true of most other parts of the world, including India. Rural electrification is not a power problem. As. Mr. Clyde T. Ellis, General Manager, Electrical Cooperatives in the U.S.A., says it is a social problem, a longrange economic problem and often, a political problem. For, if it were a power problem, it would be subject to the existing practice of supplying electricity only to the urban areas where profitability is high and *tural people would have to wait indefinitely. But electricity on the farms and in rural areas pays dividends many times over. Besides brightening up the physical and mental horizons, electricity promotes home crafts, communities industries, agricultural output and agro-industries. It leads to the develop. ment of community facilities such as health centres, meeting places and recreational facilities. It raises the standard of living of the people and their purchasing power. In short, it leads to buoyancy in economic activities in the cities. The U.S. Example The United States has demonstrated that rural electric cooperatives, following generally the Rockdale principles, provide the best organisational structure for serving the rural areas. Till 1935, only about 10.9 per cent of the rural households in the United States re ceived electricity. This was because American farmers live on the land they cultivate and farm houses are sometimes many miles apart. Owing to the heavy cost of providing extension lines, private electricity companies were not prepared to provide electricity to thinly populated areas, and being unable to afford the cost themselves, farmers remained without electricity. Then began an era of rural electric cooperatives. In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the then President of the U. S. A., created a Rural Electrification Administration (R.E.A.) and offered it financial help in the form of loans at a very low rate of interest-only 2 per in trained and technical hands, this agency cent to be rapid in 35 years. But lacking could not accomplish a notable success. The R.E. A. therefore, organised non.profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, provided them with long term loans at nominal interest, technical help and guidance as well as standard designs, materials and operational advice. Each cooperative became a corporate unit, had an elected Board of Directors and employed a qualified Manager who also looked after the provision and maintenance of electric connection to each member. This new experiment succeeded and today 90 per cent of the 3.8 million rural households in the U.S.A. are provided with electricity. It is this facility which has resulted in making the U. S. A. a country with such abundant agricultural production. Lesson For India India can learn much from this example. We have about 5.7 lakhs of villages scattered over an area of 3.26 million sq. kilometres. By the end of the Third Plan, only 54,000 villages or 9.5 per cent of the total number of villages in the country are expected to be electrified. This is about the same percentage as was electrified in the United States till the thirties. How should we proceed with the task of electrifying the remaining 90 per cent of the villages within the shortest possible time? coordinated Rural electrification is not a profitable business and, therefore, private electrical companies cannot be relied upon for spreading it. The Electricity Supply Act which was enacted in 1940 for the distribution of electricity in the most efficidevelopment of the generation, supply and ent and economical manner, with particular reference to areas not served adequately by has also not been able private companies, to achieve any significant results. The reasons for this are, financial limitations, heavy cost of rural electrification, and to a large extent, pressure from the more vocal urban groups for power for developing industries in the towns. Pattern The organisation of rural electric cooperatives in India, as in the U. S. A., provides a very valuable pattern along which rural households in India can receive the vital energy for modernising their age-old economy and transforming their whole outlook on life. Some rural electric cooperatives were established in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Mysore in the fifties. Their number and resources are, however, extremely limited. For some considerable time to come, generation of electricity in India will have to remain in the hands of State Electricity Boards. Power generation in the country has been going on in sound lines. Our problem is not non-availability of power but it is one of rational, beneficial and expeditious transmission and distribution. Therefore, the cooperatives can and should take up the task of distribution of energy. A central autonomous agency like the R. E. A. in the U. S. A. can be set up in India to provide technical, financial and other help to electricity cooperatives. It can start with a few pilot projects and be responsible for erecting sub transmission lines. (upto 11 KV lines), L. T. distribution lines and service connections in demarcated areas. These lines can be erected through the ele ctrical contractors and for the State Electricity Boards. The State Electricity Boards, can supply bulk power to the rural electric cooperatives at agreed rates at some convenient points, operate and maintain sub-stations, and, in the initial stages, supply men and materials to enable the cooperatives to maintain their subtransimission and distribution lines. The Government of India could provide the necessary finances to the electric cooperatives in the same way as the R. E. A. does in the U. S. A. The electric cooperatives could also be provided with funds for giving loans to consumer members for wiring and purchase of domestic electrical appliances, electrical pumping sets etc. The cooperatives should also be made responsible for the load development activi ties in their areas and in this endeavour the Central Government and the State Electricity Boards should extend their full support. Pending determination of what would be an economic area for the working of a cooperative, a district or a sub division may be treated as the pilot area for electrical cooperatives to begin with. The Government of India has been offered assistance by the U.S.A. I.D. The technicians of the U. S. A. I. D. are to reach this country in January or February, 1966 for determining the pilot projects and giving us their reports. Cooperation is the basis of our social policy. Since Independence we have fostered its growth and have encouraged the spread of the cooperative approach to new fields. If it has weaknesses, which it no doubt has today, the remedy is to remove the weaknesses and not to give up the basic principle itself. Rural electrification is a new avenue ideally suited to the cooperative approach. We shou'd do everything to promote the formation of rural electric cooperatives and ensure their successful working. (Continued from page 11 ) digenous materials is far cheaper-more habitable and by bringing them into the orbit of modern technology, is an obvious one. This will not only take care of the immediate problem but will set up the village as providing an attractive way of life in its own right and as a partner with the town in the march towards progress. (By Charles Abrams Faber 42s.) Fire Fighting NEW DEVICES FROM AUSTRALIA Fire-fighting equipment which is claimed to be the most efficient available for export from Australia is being installed in Australia's newest and tallest building, the 60-stoery 600 ft. Australia Square tower in Sydney, writes Austral News. Each type possesses several distinct advantages over earlier appliances, particularly in the case of the air-water extinguisher. Great care has been taken with safety standards, and design features have assured the highest quality according to the manufacturing company, Rezal Fire Protection Engineering Pty. Ltd. of Yagoona, N. S. W., Australia. Increased production capacity has caused the firm to seek export markets for its range of pressurised fire extinguishers, thermal fire alarm systems, and sprinkler installations. Specialised company engineering staff is available to advise customers on any aspect of fire protection and, in the case of a large installation, the firm will make an expert available for onsite supervision. The firm offers complete sprinkler systems to architects, specifications, including pipe work, sprinkler heads any valves, and specially designed pumps where necessary. The company has developed a special series of extinguishers which use air as the expelling agent. After discharge by means of a pistol-grip "on-off" trigger, the extinguisher can be easily refilled, and re-pressurised by connecting an ordinary car tyre pump to the outlet nozzle and pumping internal air pressure to the required amount. The containers, built of stainless steel and arc welded for additional strength, can stand internal pressures of up to 500lb. per sq. inch. Operating pressure is only between 80 and 100 lb. per sq. inch. This air pressure system is used in three types of Rezal extinguishers-water, for ordinary fires such as with paper or wood; dry chemical for electrical outbreakers; and foam for oil or petrol blazes. With the earlier soda-acid system, not only is the resultant mixture harmful to property, but recharging - which takes at least ten minutes-is often necessary because of deterioration of the chemicals. With the new Rezal gaswater extinguishers, none of these disadvantages is present. Only pure water is expelled and recharging is quick (one minute), easy and safe. In the case of the C02 extinguishers, their particular advantage is lightness. The are built of aluminium alloy. Fire Hazard In Delhi Delhi faces a serious fire hazard as about 2,000 fire hydrants have been rendered unserviceable. The rest of the 5,000 dydrants in the city remain almost dry for about eight hours every day. Brass plates of the 2,000 hydrants have either been removed by thieves or damaged by vandals. Water supply in most areas is considerably reduced early in the morning and thin in the afternoon. The hydrants, including the 5,000 serviceable, have only "residual" supply during these hours. Delhi's fire service is organized on modern lines and is equipped with the latest fire fighting machines. But without an adequate supply of water it is like an army without ammunition. The story of firemen waiting for water is often repeated in the Capital. Whenever fire breaks out during the "dry" period, the men have to make frantic efforts to have the presure increased by water officials. (Continued on page 35) Water Supply Cauveri Water Water From Jedarpalayam Madras Government has ordered investigation of the feasibility of bringing water from Jedarpalayam regulator in the Cauvery through a contour canal to augment the drinking water supply to the City. It has also sanctioned necessary staff for the purpose, the Industries Minister, Mr. R. Venkataraman, told the Madras Legislative Council on November 5 answering on behalf of the Food Minister. The exact cost of the scheme would be known when the investigation report was received, he added. Central Aid Dr. Sushila Nayyar, Health Minister, told the Lok Sabha on November 10 that the Centre had sanctioned Rs. 170 lakhs for water supply scheme for Madras City for the current year as against Rs. 175 lakhs asked for. For Madras City He urged the speeding up of the Krishna- A number of members including Mr. The resolution was put to vote but was lost. P. M.'s Assurance The Prime Minister assured a two-member delegation from Madras on November 26 in New Delhi that she would request the Chief Minister of Madras to implement the Cauveri water scheme which envisages the supply of drinking water to the growing population of Madras City. Those who met the Prime Minister were Mr. Minor Moses, Mayor of Madras and Mr. Manoharan, Leader of the Dravida Munnetra The Minister was intervening in a discussion on a private member's resolution asking Kazhagam Group in Parliament. for sufficient financial assistance for Madras State for early implementation of a scheme to provide adequate supply of drinking water to Madras City. She said that while the scheme to bring Cauvery waters to Madras, estimated to cost Rs 17.5 crores, was under examination, work had already commenced on clearing 7,500 acres of wet land near Red Hills lake to augment supply of drinking water by about 7 to 8 million dollons per day. Besides, it was decided to proceed with the scheme for constructing an open line channel from Poondi reservoir to Red Hills to avoid loss in transit. It was also proposed to raise the level of the Red Hills tank bund. Mr. Moses later told newsmen that the scheme would cost about Rs. 16 crores to Rs. 20 crores. The scheme which has been in the blueprint stage for some years envisages the drawing of water from Veeranam lake near Chidambaram to Madras City. The Mayor said the scheme had assumed considerable urgency in the light of the already limited water supply in the City which had still more been accentuated by the rapid population growth and the establishment of a number of the industries along the periphery of the City. Mr. Moses and Mr. Manoharan took the opportunity of their meeting with the Prime Minister in thinking her for the generous donation of Rs. one crore to provide relief to the cyclone-stricken people of Madras City. (Continued on page 31 ) |