Newsletter of the projects lead in India by Indian Project Association during this year 2012-13

1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Context p.1
The Solar Workshops p.2
Introduction p.2
Works Since 2011 p.2
The Team p.3
The Future p.3
Testimony p.4
General Assembly p.5
The Context
Indian Project’s activities began with Howrah South Point (HSP) NGO which is a 100%
Indian NGO for disabled children, orphans or children too poor to get education.
HSP was reorganised in 2012 and our collaborative project has had to change. Indeed, as
Topon became our solar specialist, it was planned to develop a vocational training for
young people once children compulsory school would be finished. Today, HSP wishes to
remain focused on its core activity. The trend is for them, too fast, and they are not open
yet to this orientation towards training in solar systems manufacturing and installing. So
we continue working with HSP for solar installations within the NGO itself and this with
the help of Topon Dhara and Mogradangi solar workshop.
1 HSP girls at the annual pic-nic
Indian Project’s goal being primarily training, we had the great joy to begin a training
project with the renowned institute in Kolkata which is the engineering and technical
training DON BOSCO SERI institute. Don Bosco SERI is a research institute for future
independent. It is an institution fighting for education, teaching, training and
rehabilitation of young boys and girls who have left school, giving them the opportunity
to find a job or become independent. This is to enable the poor to become active
members within the society.
Indian Project has also been involved in the Solar Electrification of ICOD (Interreligious
2 Don Bosco students Centre Of Development – Gaston Dayananda) Community hall. ICOD is located in an
isolated rural area near Calcutta and welcomes children, disadvantaged young and older
people to give them a chance to get a healthy living place conducing to their
development and wellbeing. ICOD also hosts traumatized women, often after their
marriage, some do not even able to speak any more.
Indian Project keeps also close relations with the organization ABC, Asha Bhavan Centre -
Home of Hope, in English - which welcomes children from younger age through
adolescence with simple to very pronounced disabilities. ABC provides a living for these
children, and care for their development regardless of their disability. Over 350 children
3 ABC handicapped child studying per day are welcomed and about 200 staying on site. Thus the kitchen has a heavy
financial burden on gas for cooking and they would like to cover the kitchen roof with
solar panels to cut costs through sun-heated water.
We also have to tell you about Seva Kendra Calcutta. It is a social centre of Calcutta
Diocese to serve the poor and needy of West Bengal. This centre is also interested in our
solar training and we hope working with them next year, might the training model
deployed in Don Bosco bear fruit.
4 ICOD residents in the community hall
hall
Association Indian Project
Rue du Collège, 2 - 2112 Môtiers
indianproject.solar@gmail.com
p.1

2. NEWSLETTER 2012/13
The Solar Workshops
Introduction
The Mogradangi solar workshop has kept a “handcraft” dimension, and the project has also
started spreading to other NGOs. What matters for Indian Project today is to spread this solar
energy training system to make solar energy as accessible and popular as possible. The project
expansion in terms of industrialization could not be made because of HSP brake. Indian Project
aims first and foremost to serve the people, so we go where the need is. Thus the solar
workshops development points towards other NGOs interested in such training model. 2 Mogradangi Didis
Works Since 2011
Here are the achievements of solar systems and maintenance works carried out by Indian
Project in West Bengal since 2011.
Bakuabari - November 2011
Bakuabari center already had two solar systems for over 15 years. The Mogradangi solar
3 Bakuabari - Nirmala Nivas
workshop team renovated one of them, in early 2011, and the second one, at the end of 2012.
Due to corrosion and leaks the systems had become unusable. It has been, since November
2012, operational again as Topon fixed it before Giuliano comes, we are very glad about his
entrepreneurship and autonomy.
Bakshara - Avril 2012
In 2012, Giuliano went to West Bengal to meet with our friends and to help them to continue
our common projects. Installation was performed on the roof of the home of Bakshara (HSP) in 4 Bakshara solar system
Howrah. The installation of Bakshara is made of 6 panels, e.g. 12m2 of solar panels, with a 650-
liter hot water tank and a 200-liter cold water buffer tank. The system provides shower water for
70 girls, 20 staffs, and cooking water for 300 meals per day, so respectively 350, 100, and 200
liters of water at 70 ° C.
Bakshara - February 2013
In 2013, Giuliano went back to Bakshara as the solar system had, in fact, significant leakage due
to a new welding technique not well controlled yet. The team fixed the leak with the traditional 8 Bakshara solar system team
5
arc welding which gave successful result.
Don Bosco - February 2013
6 Don Bosco
Then, Giuliano went to Don Bosco, our technicians friends, to train future teachers. Installation is Solar system
in progress on a roof of the training center at Don Bosco SERI Howrah. The Don Bosco didactic students
2
installation is made of 2 panels, e.g. 4m solar panels, with a 300-liter hot water tank and a 100-
liter cold water buffer tank. The system provides shower water for 40 adolescents, 200 liters of
water at 70 ° C per day.
Association Indian Project
Rue du Collège, 2 - 2112 Môtiers
p.2 indianproject.solar@gmail.com

3. NEWSLETTER 2012/13
Mogradangi, Jordighi and Maria Basti - January 2013
Since the establishment of the three hot water solar systems at Mogradangi, Jordighi, and Maria
Basti, an annual checking and measurement allows us to ensure everything is working properly.
And we are glad to know it gives full satisfaction to the users.
The Team 7 Maria Basti Solar System
Topon Dhara, our foreman, is now training a new trainee named Shintu. Shintu has been
working with Topon for over a year, and has been working on solar systems when Giuliano has
been present. Indeed, HSP relies on the presence of Giuliano, or one of the members of Indian
Project to undertake new installations.
Giuliano has kept going back to India three months
per year for new solar installations, maintenance,
monitoring, training and of course to maintain
friendship relations with HSP, ABC, ICOD, Don Bosco ,
Seva Kendra, Prodip and Sharmila and many others.
Giuliano and Topon went together to give the training
to Don Bosco’s future teachers. To hear Giuliano,
Topon is a very good teacher, not only for trainees but
also for trainers. He has his reference and note book
and teaches in Bengali what he has learned with
Indian Project, while Giuliano oversees. It is a great
satisfaction for Indian Project to see that Topon
gained confidence and independence.
11 Don Bosco panel manufacturing class
While Giuliano works on the projects in India and makes presentations when he is back to
Switzerland, Adrien and Fanny are not left behind. Indeed, project management, accounting,
and all the administrative tasks require a significant time investment. They work to improve
Indian Project’s organization and structure in order to realize more actions and manage more
projects.
12 Don Bosco students
The Future searching for a solution
The educational component is Indian Project’s priority and we hope Don Bosco training
implementation will play a role in the market development of solar thermal energy in Howrah
(suburbs of Calcutta).
After Don Bosco, we hope we will start working with Seva Kendra NGO. We are constantly
looking for training centres interested in our training course for installers and manufacturers of
hot water solar systems.
13 Poor and excluded
children access to school
Association Indian Project
Rue du Collège, 2 - 2112 Môtiers
indianproject.solar@gmail.com
p.3

4. NEWSLETTER 2012/13
Testimony: 20 years later
In February 2013, I spent a month in West Bengal, India, in Calcutta area.
My previous trip was in 1992. So my memories were more than 20 years old. Before leaving
Switzerland I often asked myself: What has changed in West Bengal?
The rise of the middle class, yet lower in Bengal as elsewhere in India, is visible. The vast
majority of people have a mobile phone, thus many antennas are visible. Apart from the
slums, electricity became widespread and economic bulbs are common. The number of
private cars and motorcycles is growing rapidly, as well as house constructions. The outfits
are a bit more internationalized.
The downside: infrastructures do not follow. Traffic, already overburdened, is increasing,
and parking spaces for cars are insufficient. As the population of the two neighboring cities
of Howrah and Calcutta is constantly increasing, public transport is often overcrowded. In
2012, the Indian government removed subsidies of domestic gas. Therefore, many
households and NGOs switched to wood cooking increasing pollution. The waste number of
any kind is more visible than ever on the roadside and elsewhere. Packaging and other
plastic objects thrown on the ground (there is no garbage or waste at home) are the cause.
How will the Indian government deal with these problems?
For cons, I found people as before with their emotions, their joy, their smile, but also their
sadness and problems. Hosting by NGOs and families that I knew is still as warm as it used
to be.
Don Bosco Technical Institute in Howrah began to train future technicians in hot water
solar systems with Topon and Giuliano to teach future(s) trainer(s). As a start, our two
specialists made a demonstration system with 2 panels. They began with buying the
necessary equipment, but moving from Howrah to Calcutta takes time because of heavy
traffic, then they had to find items, shops, etc. ... they left in the morning and came back in
the late afternoon! The rod lengths are adjusted, welded, painted and finally assembly
begins. The wrench is distorted, Giuliano needs another wrench. After 15 minutes, an
apprentice arrives with an other wrench. Actually, with a second good wrench it could go
faster. There is none. Buy one? No… first they must obtain permission from the head of the
school and he is already very busy. Then you have to move to Calcutta...! Too long! Finally
they managed. The finished assembly has to be set on a flat building roof. The drill power is
too low, find another one, it is found after 20 minutes, the diameter of the wick is too
small, find another wick... there is none! Ask the head of the school.... Finally, the assembly
continues, but not in time. Of course, once well organized, with equipment and tools
available, the job will go faster.
This is just one example among many. But EVERYTHING takes time. Or would it be us, in our
Swiss society having to be quick-quick, who have lost the true meaning of time??
I congratulate Fanny, Giuliano and Adrien (the French one) to have built and set up all these
solar hot water systems in the various centers of HSP. They know what patience and
perseverance are!! Bravo
Adrien Ruchti (the Swiss one)
Association Indian Project
Rue du Collège, 2 - 2112 Môtiers
indianproject.solar@gmail.com
p.4

5. THANK YOU!
These projects cannot be achieved without your
donations, we hope we can continue relying on
your generosity.
Our Indian friends thank you!
The list of projects to be supported in 2013 is attached to this document
Each donor receives a donation receipt for the sum (or sums) paid, twice a year. It has
happened that the money remains blocked in transaction. Thus, it is important to ask for a
certificate as a guarantee that the money has arrived on behalf of Indian Project.
General Assembly
You are welcome to the General Assembly,
Giuliano will back to give us fresh news.
The GA will be held on Saturday, April 20 at 3 PM at Couvet’s parish which is down the road
from the chapel, next to the cemetery. The chapel is 10 minutes’ walk from Couvet’s station
and there are also available parking spaces for cars.
The GA will be followed by a snack to share a friendly moment and you will also find Indian
souvenirs for sale.
p.5