Replacing kerosene with solar lamps in India.

In 2012-3, Dr Shobha Chamania, Director of the ITC at Choirtham Hospital and Research Centre ran a research project to assess the feasibility of using solar and LED lamps as a sustainable alternative to kerosene lamps in rural India. Kerosene lamps are a common cause of burns in the home and this small pilot project, funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO), looked at sustainable and affordable alternatives to kerosene lamps that could reduce the incidence of burns in rural communities.

In many parts of rural India, electricity is either very limited or unavailable and such lamps are often an important source of light and heat for villagers. Unfortunately, the improvised kerosene lamps that are commonly used are often unsafe and an accidental spillage can result in serious burns for householders and children.

The article ‘Pilot project in rural western Madhya Pradesh, India to assess the feasibility of using LED and solar-powered lanterns to remove kerosene lamps and related hazards from homes’ has been published in the BURNS journal. It examines the impact of replacing kerosene lamps on the incidence of burns and the cultural and social acceptability of the new lamps among local communities. The hope is that this pilot project will pave the way for future, larger-scale prevention initiatives to reduce the high incidence of burns in rural India.