Powered by sun: Computer lab now,entire school next target

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) department of Steria,a software company at Talwade IT Park,had installed three solar panels — comprising six solar units of two ft by four ft each — at the school in September 2010.

Chaitrali Inamdar,head of CSR,Steria,Pune said their team had visited the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry,where they were inspired by solar-operated projects,and it gave them the idea of a solar-operated school. “As a pilot project,we started the solar-operated computer lab at the PCMC school in Talawade,which is among the 12 schools where we conduct various educational activities. We have spent about Rs 4.5 lakh on the project so far… Flat screen computers were installed as they require less electricity. Five more computers would be installed soon. May be in a year or so,we would set up more solar panels connecting all bulbs and other electronic equipments in the school,making it fully solar-operated. The PCMC is supporting the project well.”

School principal Adinath Shevale said,“We are doing as good as other prominent schools in the city. Our students,most of them from poor families,performed exceptionally well in the computer intelligence exams conducted by Jnana Prabodhini.”

The initiative has also helped in giving students live lessons on the benefit of alternative energy. “I feel proud that our school conducts computer classes even during power cuts. We now understand the importance of solar energy,” says student Vidya More.

The school also has a vermiculture unit and garden of medicinal plants and vegetables. Teacher Jyoti Mode says,“There are nine teachers who work with students as a team. We also sell the vegetables grown in the school garden. The money generated is added to the school fund.”

PCMC commissioner Ashish Sharma,who visited the school last week,had only words of praise for the school. “I was really inspired by the work being done by students and teachers. Everybody seemed to be deeply committed. I feel this school can be a role model,” he wrote down in the visitors’ book.