Spin, sing and power the e-charkha way

Adding â€˜eâ€™ to â€˜Gandhigiriâ€™ in the country the e-charkha that is to be launched soon not only produces yarn but also generates electricity. With an initial price tag of Rs 3,000, it could be a good option for rural India.

Published on 11/01/2007 - 16:07:00 PM

By Manoj Gupta
While â€˜e' has assumed a lot of significance in this computer and Internet age, e-mail, e-ticketing, e-booking, e-filing of return and the words like that have already become a passÃ©. Nevertheless India's Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has decided to add â€˜e' to â€˜Gandhigiri' in the country by launching â€˜e-charkha' soon.

The e-charkha developed by RS Hiremath not only produces yarn but also generates electricity using a maintenance free lead acid battery fixed at the bottom, which functions as an inverter.

The charkha that generate 6-9 Watts of power can, however, help the weavers as they can generate sufficient power to provide back-up for about six to seven hours of basic lighting LED lighting by spinning the wheel for about two hours. Not to forget that it can also help them play radio.

The LED light and the generator (three-phase version) of the e-charkha are of the latest design and both have an extremely long life of at least 35 years.

All components have been chosen after a worldwide search so that the end user has a reliable, foolproof, weather-proof and rugged product, which can be enjoyed for many years.

With an initial price tag of Rs 3,000, it could be a good option for rural people to achieve back-up power, play radio as well as generate employment and according to KVIC, it plans to induct two lakh pieces of e-charkha at Khadi weaving centres across the country.

However, according to Hiremath, e-charkha is just one of the socially relevant products and he has many more such innovations in his sleeve that are being used by poor rural population.

Gandhiji, charkha and khadi
As we know that spinning of the thread on charkha precedes the weaving of khadi. The charkha became a weapon towards achieving independence during non-cooperation movement.

Mahatma Gandhi had said, "In my dream, in my sleep, while eating, I think of spinning wheel. The spinning wheel is my sword. To me it is the symbol of India's liberty."

The great saint-visionary had also said that he would make the spinning-wheel the foundation on which to build a sound village life. "I would make the wheel the centre round which all other activities will revolve," he had said.

That charkha was not merely a spinning-wheel for making threads had been made amply clear by Gandhi, "Take to spinning (to find peace of mind). The music of the wheel will be as balm to your soul. I believe that the yarn we spin is capable of mending the broken warp and woof of our life.

He believed that the charkha is the symbol of non-violence on which all life, if it is to be real life, must be based. He had also visualised that while charkha was a means of income to the poor, howsoever paltry it might be, it undoubtedly had much greater significance.

Spin and sing
According to the Bangalore-based engineer Hiremath who has been active in the field of non-conventional energy resources, the concept of e-charkha revolves around the need to help weavers not only to produce yarn but also to provide both income and electricity to the poorest masses in remote villages.

The basic idea of the e-charkha is not only to produce yarn but also to generate electricity and employment. With e-charkha in place, spinning would never be the same again, he states.

What's more, it helps the rural population spin charkha at night with worrying about the power cuts. If the power goes off, they just need to switch on to the â€˜charkha power' while continuing to enjoy the favourite FM programme while spinning!

According to Hiremath,Â withÂ the KVIC planning to induct nearly two lakh e-charkha users, the country can save close to about 30 tonne of carbon dioxide (Co2) every day.

Government to push e-charkha
The Government of India recently reconstituted the Khadi and Village Industries Commission with Kumud Joshi as the Chairperson to promote khadi and charkha.

It has also formulated a scheme for enhancing productivity and competitiveness of khadi industry and artisans in consultation with KVIC. This scheme has the principal objective of upgrading the quality of khadi products for domestic as well as export market.

The scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of five years and after the complete implementation of the scheme, around 24,000 new employment opportunities are expected to be added.

It would be providing services related to overhauling, repairing and renewal of allied equipment for spinning and weaving and replacement of obsolete equipment in operation with 200 of the best performing khadi institutions registered with KVIC. Besides, it will also be setting up service centres, product and design development capacity building of artisans as well as khadi institutions.

The KVIC has also launched â€˜Mission Khadi' to convert the khadi fabric into readymade garments of latest designs and is planning to take the help of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai and NIFT, Kolkata for identification and procurement of appropriate machinery for projects under the Mission.

The author is Deputy Director (M&C) of Press Information Bureau

Add new comment

Submitted by Ashish Mishra on 11/12/2009 - 09:49:13 AM.

I am interested to start a center for SHGs to give them employment through e-Charkha. Please send me full details about it and guide me also as soon as possible or I want to purchase e-Charkha for business purpose and tell me how can I start business with the help of e-charkha. please send me details.

Thanks and regards

Ashish Mishra

Submitted by J P Sharma on 10/29/2009 - 23:34:40 PM.

I want to purchase e-charkha. So please send the details and how the same can be helpful in the business.

Thanks and regards
J P Sharma

Submitted by Kamlesh kumar sharma on 10/21/2009 - 09:21:14 AM.

Please send full details about e-charkha with Its cost and working I want to purchase e-Charkha for educational purpose
Thank you

Submitted by Gurvinder Kaur on 10/21/2009 - 08:59:20 AM.

Dear sir,

I want to purchase e-Charkha
for business purpose and tell me how can I start business with the help of e-charkha. please send me details.

Regds.
Gurvinder Kaur

Submitted by Ketan shah on 10/10/2009 - 00:45:47 AM.

I want to purchase e charkha so please give me a details about its function and Price.

Also please let me know how we can get yarn and how to deliver

Regards,

Ketan

Submitted by Mukesh Pareek on 09/20/2009 - 15:02:01 PM.

Dear sir,
I want to purchase e-Charkha
for business purpose and tell me how can I start business with the help of e-charkha. please send me details.

Submitted by Kishan on 08/30/2009 - 07:06:41 AM.

Sir please tell me how can I purchase e-charkha. Please send other charkha details.

thanks

Submitted by ashish kheria on 08/26/2009 - 01:04:23 AM.

where can i get echarkha?please send the names and address of the sellers and manufacturers

Submitted by arti sahuliyar on 07/15/2009 - 08:36:56 AM.

excellent.

Submitted by Bhageshwar Mishra on 05/04/2009 - 20:06:48 PM.

Hello Sir,
I am keenly interested in e-charkha for business purpose. How can I start to do this business.
Thanks.

Submitted by Sanjay Upadhyay on 03/28/2009 - 11:01:09 AM.

We want to purchase 50 numbers e-charkha from Mr Hiremath or KVIC for benefit of weavers in Dindori District of Madhya Pradesh. Please asend info and contact us.

Submitted by Balu Katey from Canada on 03/23/2009 - 00:27:39 AM.

I would like to reach the manufacturer and discuss business opportunities.

Please send me details of contact address, phone numbers and email address as well as the website and a video of the product use.

Balu Katey

Submitted by Editor, iGovernment on 02/27/2009 - 15:56:30 PM.

Dear Readers, Greetings! For all queries related to e-Charkha you may contact Mr R S Hiremath, the inventor the e-Charkha directly by sending him a mail at flexitron@yahoo.com. Regards, Shubhendu Parth Editor, iGovernment.in +91 9811402655 shubhendu@igovernment.in

Submitted by Devendra Nath Thakur on 02/23/2009 - 15:25:15 PM.

Dear Sir, I am interested in purchasing e-charkha. I shall be thankful if you kindly arrange to furnish more information on it. Thanks

Submitted by Navin Kr. Sinha on 01/17/2009 - 14:18:32 PM.

I live in Dhanbad, Jharkhand and interested in purchasing e-Charkha. Could you please give in some information as to where I can get the raw material in Dhanbad. Can you also provide the buyer to whom I can sell the thread in Dhanbad and surrounding areas.

Submitted by Uma Kant on 12/09/2008 - 20:22:30 PM.

Sir
I want to purchase e-charkha for for relatives living in rural areas and urban areas both to provide employment and support for their survival. May I know the place and person to whom contacted for procurement the same in Biahr.
With best regards and humble request for support pl
Uma Kant
Member, Sarthak Pahal (NGO)

Submitted by Vijay Kumar on 11/13/2008 - 10:04:23 AM.

Please tell me How can I purchase E-charkha?

Submitted by Vijay Kumar on 11/10/2008 - 22:34:11 PM.

how can I purchase E- charkha????????

Submitted by Vijay Kumar on 11/10/2008 - 14:52:18 PM.

I want to purchase e-Charkha. Please give me detail of the same.

Submitted by KULDEEP SINGH on 11/06/2008 - 14:50:00 PM.

I want know the charges of e-charkha

Submitted by AMIT SINGH on 10/25/2008 - 16:18:46 PM.

Iwould like to know the prospect of installing e-charkha. Please send the complete details. I would like to know the markets where i can sell thread generated from e-charkha.Because I am interested in purchasing an e-charkha.
Please send me the complete details abt the income prospectives if i am going to install the e-charkha at my house.

Please tell me about the training of operating e-charkha. where can in take the training of operating e-charkha. Please provide me all details.

Submitted by Ranjit singh on 10/20/2008 - 12:41:11 PM.

I LIKE E-CHARKHA .BUT I AM HELPLESS.PLEASE GIVE ME FULL INFORATION
OF E-CHARKHA.PLEASE GIVE ME THE ANSWER OF MY QUESTION. 1-HOW IT IS THE SOURCE OF INCOME? 2-WHERE IS E-CHARKHA SELLING? 3-WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY TRAINING WORK I AM LIVING AT LUDHIANA

Submitted by Prashant Bhardwaj on 10/16/2008 - 21:19:26 PM.

Am based in Faridabad and interested in purchasing e-Charkha. Could you please give in some information as to where I can get the raw material in Faridabad. Can you also provide the buyer to whom I can sell the thread to on a monthly basis... in Faridabad and surrounding areas... Thank you and i want to say that we have need to advertisement at big label to known Indian people i think there is big population who has not aware this e-charkha and this scheme.

Submitted by KUM.HEMLATA GUPTA on 10/09/2008 - 14:33:54 PM.

I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF E-CHARKHA BECAUSE IT WILL HELPFUL IN CREATING NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND I WILL LIKE TO CONNECT WITH E-CHARKA.

Submitted by Shalini on 10/07/2008 - 10:29:44 AM.

I am based in Faridabad and interested in purchasing e-Charkha. Could you please give in some information as to where I can get the raw material in Faridabad. Can you also provide the buyer to whom I can sell the thread to on a monthly basis... in Faridabad and surrounding areas... Thank you

Submitted by Ramesh N on 10/04/2008 - 18:46:33 PM.

Hello

I read with interest about E-Charka on October 2, 2008, Bangalore Mirror.

I am really quite impressed by this product. Could you kindly tell me more about the Products, its availability and price at Bangalore city. Do you plan any more compact versions of same.

Regards
Ramesh Nemail : nram3000@gmail.com

Submitted by Ashish Kumar Srivastava on 10/03/2008 - 16:11:10 PM.

Please send full details about e-charkha. Its cost, working and earning etc.

Submitted by Arti Sahuliyar on 10/02/2008 - 14:29:22 PM.

The e-charkha developed by RS Hiremath is also going to be launched in newly created state, Jharkhand. I am very greatful to Mr Hiremath who has gifted the people of rural India with this new concept, a growth towards e-governance.Arti SahuliyarReporterThe Telegraph newspaper

Submitted by Priyendra Verma on 09/27/2008 - 15:02:59 PM.

I would like to know the prospect of installing e-charkha. Please send the complete details. I would like to know the markets where i can sell thread generated from e-charkha.Because I am interested in purchasing an e-charkha.Please send me the complete details abt the income prospectives if i am going to install the e-charkha at my house.
Please tell me about the training of operating e-charkha. where can in take the training of operating e-charkha. Please provide me all details.

Submitted by R.S. Hiremath on 09/27/2008 - 12:39:11 PM.

This is Mr.R.S. Hremath the innovator of e-charkha, all interested in further information may please contact me on e-mail at flexitron@yahoo.com .

Regards,

R.S. Hremath

Submitted by Savita on 09/23/2008 - 12:37:28 PM.

I am interested in purchasing an e-charkha. Pl give me details.

Submitted by Varun on 09/23/2008 - 12:31:41 PM.

I would like to know the prospectus of installing e-charkha. I would like to know the markets where i can sell thread generated from e-charkha.

Please send me the complete details abt the income prospectives if i am going to install the e-charkha at my house.

Submitted by preeti on 09/23/2008 - 10:52:26 AM.

I am interested to start a center for SHGs to give them employment through e-Charkha. Please send me full details about it and guide me also as soon as possible.

Preeti

Submitted by sanjai trivedi on 09/20/2008 - 18:53:19 PM.

sir pl send all information about e charkha,

Submitted by sanjai trivedi on 09/18/2008 - 11:02:43 AM.

res sir
sir bahut dukh key sath kahna parraha hai ki kya aapka ye e charkha ek fraud hai,kyoki mainey kai baar aapko information bhejney ko kaha lekin aapkey dwara koi jankari nahi bheji gayi,uskey baad mainey aapkey lucknow officesey samparkkiya lekin vaha key director mr pandey ney saff kah diya aisa kuch bhi nahi hai,jis madhyam sey aapko jankari mili ho aapunsey hi jakar le lo,so kya ye kewal aap haM BEROGARO ki bhavnao sey khelrahey they kya

Submitted by sanjai trivedi on 09/17/2008 - 14:37:10 PM.

sir, pl abhi tak mujhey e charkha key barey mey aapkey dwara koi bhi jankari nahi di gayi hai pl mujhey jald sey jald guide karey taki mey apni family ka pet paal saku

Submitted by Girish Honavar on 09/13/2008 - 00:33:05 AM.

Gandhiji believed and hoped that swadeshi would become the future of India. This creative innovation is one step forward towards fulfilling the dream. Kudos.

Anybody interested in a 40 k.m. walk in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanthi 2 Oct 2008, please contact me.

Submitted by Sahara Briscoe on 09/11/2008 - 23:25:01 PM.

I'm a spinner of cotton and wool, and this is a most important invention!

I will gladly assist in getting the yarn spun, into yarn shops here in the states! Please contact me!

Submitted by R.S.Hiremath on 09/11/2008 - 11:56:26 AM.

I am Mr.R.S.Hiremath , the develoer of e-charkha , I am thankful for the understanding and appreciation of the e-charkha by many of the members. I wish to convey the following ;

a) My postal address is as follows

R.S.Hiremath
FLEXITRON
1234, 22 A Main , 11A Cross,
Sector-1 , HSR Layout
BANGALORE-560102 INDIA

b) You my contact me on flexitron@yahoo.com and also on +919845113109 , please send an e-mail , or send an SMS I shall contact back at my earliest.

c) The e-charkha can be obtained from us.
at above address.

d) Please also note there are a few errors in some news reports , mostly concerning an 'Invertor' , there is NO invertor in this system , and the battery life is at best about 6 years on use everyday for 4 hours. BUT the rest of the parts are very long lasting like the LED bulb unit and the Generator and copuld last upto 30-35 years.

I shall be glad to send you any technical details as essential.

Regards,

R.S.Hiremath.

Submitted by Vineet Mishra on 09/10/2008 - 14:05:08 PM.

Hello,
I am keenly interested to buy an e-charkha so any information regarding from that available me as soon as possible.
Thanks

Submitted by sanjai trivedi on 09/10/2008 - 11:36:32 AM.

Sir,
I would like to know the prospect of installing e-charkha. Please send the complete details.

Submitted by Dr. Vijay Vartak on 09/10/2008 - 10:08:18 AM.

Sir,

Hats off to the rural industry. In these times of acute shortage KVIC has come up with a model which will give both electricity and earning too. May I know who provides this e-charkha. Similarly who buys the yarn. Can someone enlighten on this.

Expecting a reply.

Regards,

Vijay Vartak

Submitted by Gurvinder on 09/09/2008 - 13:10:48 PM.

I would like to use this charkha as a tool for rehabilitation of people who have been sidelined by our so called CIVILIZED URBAN SOCIETY.

What I dont understand is where will we sell this yarn ???
Will somebody buy this from us ?????

Kindly enlighten me on this .

If somebody will be buying then it will be boon for treating and rehabilitating patients of URBAN LIFESTYLE DISEASES.

Looking forward to an answer, by any GANDHIAN.

Gurvinder

Submitted by vinod rastogi on 09/08/2008 - 15:45:37 PM.

i would like to know the prospectus of installing e-charkha. I would like to know where to purchase it & the markets where i can sell thread generated from e-charkha.

Please send me the complete details abt the income prospectives if i am going to install the e-charkha at my house.

Thanks,
vinod rastogi
kanpur(u.p.)

Submitted by sunita trivedi on 09/08/2008 - 12:03:15 PM.

Sir,
I am interested in purchasing an e-charkha. Pl give me details.Sunita

Submitted by SANJAI TRIVEDI on 09/08/2008 - 11:47:23 AM.

Res sir,
pl kya mujhey e charkha key barey mey puri jankari mil sakti hai , mey is business ko apanana chahta hu , so pl mujhey jankari pradan karey ,
thanks

Submitted by Davinder Kumar on 09/05/2008 - 19:13:36 PM.

I would like to know the prospectus of installing e-charkha. I would like to know the markets where i can sell thread generated from e-charkha.

Please send me the complete details abt the income prospectives if i am going to install the e-charkha at my house.

Thanks,
Davinder Kumar
Ludhiana

Submitted by VIJAY KUMAR on 09/03/2008 - 11:41:34 AM.

Sir,
I am interested to buy e charkha for my roji-roti.
please guide me about that.
Thanks
vijay

Submitted by Daya Shanker Singh on 09/02/2008 - 20:03:07 PM.

e-charkha will help people increase their income as well as improve the spiritual aspect of an individual.India needs such things. My compliments to Mr Hiremath.

Submitted by Mrs Himabindu Kishore on 08/16/2008 - 11:06:42 AM.

It is wonderful that at last something concrete is being done to address the basic needs of these unfortunate but wonderful Indians, we all should be very proud of. We have similar devices that not only brightly light up a room, play an AM/FM radio and also charge a cellphone - All with no batteries or bulbs required for ever. Yes, without surprise- comes at an expense but zero future costs, zero maintenance costs & comes with a 5-10 years guarantee.For a brochure or demo, one may call
Mrs Himabindu @ 0866-6455445 or 92461-94889,Email: thehighendstore@gmail.com orwrite to HIGHEND GREEN, POST BOX 777,
VIJAYAWADA 520 010.

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