'Roshini'-Developing a DIY Rural Solar Light: Utilizing Products at End-of-Life (EoL) Stage

Access to electricity (primarily for lighting) has been a challenge in developing countries, especially for rural areas. Further, hands-on DIY approaches in rural areas could empower the youth in various vocational skills involving sustainable design and energy-use, viz., Photovoltaics (PV), energy-storage devices, smart-sensors, efficient lighting and waste recycling. With these objectives in mind, a Do-it-yourself (DIY) kit 'Roshini'-aimed to provide a basic solar-based lighting has been envisaged. The design also has provision for extended-use of PV-panels by utilizing partially-degraded ones. The aim of this study is to understand the challenges and benefits of DIY based kits for affordable and reliable product-development and dissemination in rural base-of-The-pyramid (BoP) households. A preliminary study was conducted on a group of students from Bengaluru city (Karnataka state) and Namakkal district (Tamil Nadu state) to understand the ability of youth to acquire the vocational skills of assembly, design, and learnings from a DIY-kit prepared to impart a basic understanding of product design and electronics design. The major benefits seen from this DIY-oriented study is the design-learning and skill development amongst the youth. With the idea of DIY, cost of assembly of the product and associated environmental impacts are reduced. In summary, this study helps us to learn the strengths and weaknesses of DIY modules; and would provide us with innovative pedagogical models for training and education of rural youth and adolescent population. Furthermore, this DIY approach can be extended to urban slums, street vendors and womenfolk across the rural-urban divide to empower youth and adults alike.