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Abstract The history of economic development is on the Options among Rural Households was conducted in
cost of ecology rather than the sustaining environment and Haryana and Himachal Pradesh states. The outcomes of
development. The countries that became centrally located the study provide a roadmap for future programmes
in the stream of economic exchanges among people around promoting the use of clean, efficient and modern energy
the world impacted the environment in the long run. technologies, to be implemented more effectively. Findings
Newspapers and editorials include environmental horror would further benefit the primary and secondary key
stories almost on a daily basis and demand better stakeholders involved in research and development,
management of natural resources (Jangu, 2014). But who formulation of policies and regulations, promoting sale and
is listening? purchase and provide financial assistance to future energy
The environment is not just lush green trees, threated plant programmes meant to popularize the use of Renewable
and animal species. It is the entity on which humans Energy Technologies.
primarily exist, and agricultural and industrial Keywords Renewables, Sustainable energy, Rural
development depends. Development on the cost of the households, Energy-use pattern, Solar energy.
environment can never be sustainable rather it would take
us to a point causing enormous ecological losses and I. INTRODUCTION
human sufferings primarily because of the present rate of Energy is fundamental to survival of life in any part of the
development in developing countries. In order to contribute globe. The pervasive nature of energy related activities
to the overall development in India, access to modern energy have vast impact on the environment world over. With the
and cleaner fuel for rural households is important. The current pattern of energy production, distribution and
Brundtland Commission in its 1987 report Our Common consumption, the resources will be exhausted much faster
Future coined the most quoted definition of the term that would cause accelerated environmental degradation
sustainable development, i.e., development that meets the and slow down the progress dramatically. The energy
needs of the present without compromising the ability of the sector has to play a critical role, especially in developing
future generations to meet their own needs (Mathur and countries due to the huge investments required to meet the
Goswami, 2016). Sustainable production and consumption growing energy needs.
of resources helps to satisfy necessities of life such as For the present research the categorization of energy
nutritious food, good health, clean water and sanitation, resources used is Non-Renewable and Renewable energy
clean energy, education, employment creating sustainable resources. Non-renewable Energy Resources refer to
communities while combating climate change. those sources of energy that are derived from finite and
Having a negative energy balance for decades, India is static stock of energy. They cannot be produced, grown,
forced to purchase energy from other countries to fulfil the generated or used on a scale that can sustain its
needs of the entire country. Hence, energy access is an consumption rate. The fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum,
important component of poverty alleviation and an natural gas, nuclear power are examples of non-renewable
indispensable element of sustainable human development. sources of energy. Renewable Energy Resources refer to
Government of India has initiated numerous development those resources which are available in abundance, are
programmes focussing on providing sustainable energy infinite and environment friendly in nature. These
solutions to rural communities often deprived of clean and resources include solar, wind, biomass, wave and tidal
uninterrupted energy supply for their daily energy energy (Varun and Chauhan, 2014).
requirements. The study entitled Renewable Energy Energy Access to Rural Households in India
Table.3.1: RETs Effectiveness Index Parameters and Sub-Parameters Developed for the Present Research
S.No. Effectiveness Parameters Sub-Parameters
1 Product Affordability Presence of Subsidies
Loans and other incentives
Cost of RETs and components
Repair and Maintenance service costs
2 Ease of Operation Functioning and usage
Efforts to procure and install
Ease in transportation and storage
Availability of components
3 Repair and Maintenance User competence to troubleshoot faults
Repair service/AU shops
(b) There were very few existing tools present to Various experts reiterated parameters that would
measure effectiveness of RETs as they focused contribute to the overall effectiveness of RETs in a rural
largely on ownership, utilization and working status set-up. An in-depth analysis of different parameters
of RETs. All of these researches focused on covered for selected RETs was done and relevant
integrated rural development with the use of energy dimensions were included in the effectiveness index.
efficient technologies including individual and Table 3.2 depicts the various indices that had been
community RETs. The scales that had already been referred for formulating the RETs Effectiveness Index
developed had to be adapted for use in the present relevant for the study. Amongst the Effectiveness indices
study because they were either too lengthy, specific studied, following three indices seemed relevant in the
for urban users, covered few RETs or did not cover context of the present study:
all relevant dimensions in the present situation as (a) PV System Acceptance Test (2000): RETs
revealed in the pilot study. The pilot study pointed Effectiveness Score cards developed by New Mexico
out that various RETs were used by the rural State Universitys Southwest Technology Institute
residents. and Winrock International. These score cards had
been developed to study the effectiveness of
3.1.2 Method of Development of Index electrification of households using solar grid. It was a
Development of Effectiveness of RETs index was comprehensive tool that focused on use, operation,
executed in the following stages: repair and maintenance services, community
Concept clarification involved review of literature participation etc. that helped in contributing towards
and consultation of experts to finalize definition of sustainability of the PV electrification programme. It
effectiveness and the dimension that impacted the also helped to identify issues that acted as barriers
effectiveness of RETs. towards overall success of the programme.
Review of existing indices on effectiveness of RETs (b) Village Energy Schedule (2002): India Rural Energy
helped in determining the relevant dimensions to Study by UNDP (United Nations Development
develop the effectiveness of RETs index. Programme) and ESMAP (Energy Sector Management
Review of proposed Effectiveness of RETs index Assistance Programme) sponsored by World Bank
by the experts. named Energy Strategies for Rural India: Evidence
from Six States surveyed six states to provide a wide
3.1.3 Selection of Parameters for RET Effectiveness range of climatic,topographic and socio-economic
Index development. They were Andhra Pradesh, Himachal
Table.3.2: Parameters of RETs Effectiveness Index Covered in Other Researches and Developed for the Present Research
PV System Acceptance Village Energy Schedule Village Level Schedule RETs Effectiveness parametersfor
Test (2000) by New (2002) by UNDP and (2005) by Technology the present study
Mexico State University ESMAP Projects and Market
and Winrock Research Group
International
1. Effectively Sustained 1. Users Awareness and 1. Ownership of RETs 1. Product Affordability
Technology Willingness towards Presence of Subsidies
RETs Loans and other incentives
Cost of RETs and components
Repair and Maintenance service
costs
2. Effective 2. User Attitude and 2. Functioning and 2. Ease of Operation
Management Opinion about RET Usage of RETs User competence to troubleshoot
adoption faults
Ownership and Repair service/AU shops
Functioning of RETs Availability of trained technicians
Presence of Government Response time
Programmes to support
RETs adoption and
continuance
Reliability
Success Rating of
Programmes
3. Effective Functioning 3. Repair and Maintenance
User competence to troubleshoot
faults
Repair service/AU shops
Availability of trained technicians
Response time
4. Financial Viability 4. Product Design
Aesthetic appeal
Recurrence of faults
Simple and standardized design
5. Effective Use 5. Reliability
Recurrence of faults
Utility
Durability
Predictable
6. Equitable Access 6. Initiation and Sustenance
RETs Effectiveness Index prepared for the study laid in the construction of a new measurement procedure (or
focus on various aspects that had an impact on adoption revision of an existing one).
and sustainability of RETs in rural areas. These were The relevant changes were made in the index by
divided into six parameters namely product affordability, reframing several questions after consultation with
ease of operation, repair and maintenance, product design, experts and hence, the final measure of RETs
reliability, and initiation and sustenance. For each effectiveness was assembled with 25 questions.
parameter and sub- parameters, set of questions were
prepared by referring to the existing indices. After 3.1.5 Reliability of Index
discussion with the experts, the questions were finally Cronbachs (alpha) was calculated to measure the internal
reduced to a set of twenty-five questions in RETs consistency and reliability. In statistics (Classical Test
Effectiveness Index. It was observed during the pilot Theory), Cronbach's (alpha) is used as a (lower bound)
study and also mentioned by Krishna Kumar (2006) that estimate of the reliability of a psychometric test. It can be
questions should be kept short and succinct as a lengthy viewed as the expected correlation of two tests that
question can confuse respondents and cause them to miss measure the same construct. Cronbachs alpha was
its essential point. Hence, to maintain the reliability of the calculated using the following formula:
response the length of the questions was kept short as the
questions addressed user opinions, judgments and
attitudes towards RET effectiveness.
Where,
3.1.4 Validity of Index = number of items
Keeping in view the research objectives, the index was
constructed. After formulating the preliminary index, it = variance of the observed total test scores
was examined for content or rational validity. The
= variance of component i for the current sample of
standardization was done by consulting the expert in the
persons.
field of renewable energy, rural extension, home science,
The index was found to have high degree of internal
statistics and electrical engineering from different
consistency (Cronbachs alpha: 0.76 for RETs
organization such as Ministry of New and Renewable
Effectiveness Index, refer Table 3.3) ensuring the
Energy, Indian Agricultural and Research Institute (IARI)
reliability of the index. Sattler (2001) has stressed that
and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Delhi), BSES
quotient above 0.7 but below 0.9 is considered relatively
Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power
reliable while (Nunnaly, 1978) indicated 0.7 as an
Limited. The validity of the index for the study was
acceptable reliability coefficient.
attained through its content validity. Content validity is
the extent to which the components within a measurement
Table.3.3: Reliability of RETs Effectiveness Index
procedure are relevant and representative of the concept
Developed for the Present Research
that they will be used to measure (Haynes et al., 1995).
S.No. Study Tools Reliability N of
Establishing content validity was a necessary initial task
Score Items
3.2.3 Selection of Dimensions for Change in QoL model. The approach to the measurement of the
Index quality of life derived from the position that there
Amongst the QoL indices studied, following four indices were a number of domains of living. Each domain
seemed relevant in the context of present study. An in- contributed to one's overall assessment of the quality
depth analysis of different dimensions covered in selected of life. The domains include in this model were
change in QoL index was done and relevant dimensions family and friends, work, neighborhood (shelter),
were selected for the study (refer Table 3.5). community, health, education and spirituality. All of
(a) PV System Acceptance Test(2000): QoL Score these domains were included in the developed index
cards were developed by New Mexico State for the present research in the context of user
Universitys Southwest Technology Institute and perception of change in their quality of life as a result
Winrock International. This test was comprehensive of RET usage (refer Figure 3.1).
in nature as it comprised of questions pertaining to (d) QoL Index- Ferrans and Powers (1984): Ferrans
the assessment of effectiveness of PV electrification and Powers prepared this index. It comprised of
by the rural residents as well as the change felt by thirty-three items on four domains, i.e., social and
them in their lives with its usage. The test comprised economic, psychological, health and functioning,
of score cards and focused on grid-connected system spiritual and family. The subjects attributed scores
only. on scales designed for satisfaction and importance
(b) WHO QoL Scale, Extended Version (1991): This with values ranging from 1 to 6. Hence, the
version has been prepared by QoL Group, World responses were analyzed using qualitative
Health Organization (WHO). The dimensions in this methodology. These domains were included in the
scale primarily focused on individual perception of developed QoL index for the present research with a
inter-personal relationships as well as personal well- prime focus on satisfaction (significant change) or
being in terms of level of independence, economic, no satisfaction (no change) experienced by the rural
health and psychological well-being. residents w.r.t RET usage.
(c) QoL: A Systems Model(2001): The University of
Oklahama School of Social Work prepared this
Fig.3.1: Quality of Life: A Systems Model by University of Oklahama School of Social Work (2001)
Table.3.5: Dimensions of QoL Index Covered in Other Researches and Developed for the Present Research
PV System Acceptance WHO QoL Scale: QoL: A Systems QoL Index- Change in QoL
Test (2000): Score cards Extended Version Model (2001) by Ferrans and dimensions for the present
developed by New (1991) by QoL Group The University of Powers study
Mexico State University WHO Oklahama School of (1984) by
and Winrock Social Work Ferrans and
International Powers
1. Education 1. Physical 1. Culture Health and 1. Education of Children
Energy and fatigue Work Functioning Increased study time at
Sleep and rest Neighborhood home
Pain and discomfort Family Improved academic
Friends performance
Regularity to school/
college
Participation in co-
curriculum activities
Access to education
services/ utilities outside
home
2. Income-Generation 2. Psychological 2. Demographic Social 2. Healthcare
Activities Positive feeling Characteristics Family Better access for elderly
Thinking, memory and Community Better access for women
concentration Health and children
Self-esteem Improved availability of
medical facilities/service
Decreased indoor pollution
Better healthcare at home
3. Domestic Productivity 3. Social Relationships 3. Socio-Economic Spiritual 3. Convenience and Social
Personal relationships Conditions Life
Social support Education Increased leisure time
Sexual activity Ease in conducting HH
activities
Improved social life
Better family
relationships
Living an active life
4. Information and 4. Environment 4. Spiritual 4. Safety and Security
Communication Physical safety and Decrease in incidences of
security theft
Home environment Safety from wild/stray
Financial resources animals
Health and social care Decrease in accidents
Physical environment Safety inside home
and transport Sense of security
Table.3.6: Reliability of Change in QoL of Residents 3.2.7 Calculation of Change in QoL Index
Index w.r.t RETs Usage Developed for the Present From the scores of five dimensions of QoL index, the
Research overall scores were computed. Therefore, the total