Panjab University Alumni Association under the guidance of Prof. Deepti Gupta, Dean Alumni Association organised a webinar on “Biogas From Foodwaste: Himachal Pradesh Tackles the Looming Energy Challenge” by our alumnus Dr. Sudhir Kumar ,Head, Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, Himachal Pradesh,today.
Ms. Sonia Chandel from Panjab University Alumni Association welcomed and introduced Dr. Kumar to the participants.
Dr. Kumar started by discussing the Deenbandhu Biogas Reactor, which was the first important milestone in biogas technology. Next, he explained the difference between Biogas and LPG. He explained that though the Biogas technology is not new, there have been social and cultural barriers to the spread of biogas reactors. Using and maintaining a Biogas Reactor became an added responsibility for the rural women as they took care of cooking. Therefore they avoided using it. He discussed how his team motivated the people of Himachal Pradesh to use this technology and showed interesting videos of the work they do. Dr. Kumar further explained how to fabricate, operate and maintain biogas reactors. The whole presentation was full of interesting anecdotes and incidents where wisdom and common sense of the people from rural area was also used to solve problems related to installation or functioning of the reactor.
Dr Kumar and his team have worked closely with the people of Himachal Pradesh and have set up 10 Biogas Reactors. He discussed their latest projects, introduced his team with pride, shared news coverage of their work and shared research outcomes. His team’s efforts have created many job opportunities for the local youth. He concluded with the message that if a scientific project is done keeping in mind three things – cost effectiveness, cultural acceptability and social relevance, then it is bound to be successful, nothing can hinder its success.
Towards the end a lot of interesting questions were asked by the participants. Dr. Kumar answered the questions and gave his contact information.
Some participants interacted with Dr Kumar to thank and congratulate him. Prof. Jalota, an alumni member and a colleague of Dr. Kumar, appreciated his efforts and offered to help him in his work.
A vote of thanks was given by the host, Ms. Sonia Chandel, from Panjab University Alumni Association. She appreciated Dr Kumar and his team’s work towards making communities self-reliant. The webinar ended with a lot of congratulatory messages from the participants.
