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Qualcomm, TERI bring 'SootSwap' to rural women in India

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DQI Bureau
New Update

Qualcomm Wireless Reach together with the Energy Resource Institute, the UK Department for International Development, Project Surya have partnered with the California-based Nexleaf Analytics, the developer of SootSwap mobile app. The consortium is leveraging this apps to remotely monitor and incentivize the adoption of clean cooking technologies.

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Qualcomm Vice President for Government Affairs Shawn A Cowell said that the initiative enables them to leverage wireless solution to demonstrate that their technoplgy can serve underprivileged society while, she believes that SootSwap app is innovation in mobile technology.

"With Qualcomm Wireless Reach program, we are reaching out to women and empowering the underserved in India," Cowell said. Mobile devices, today, she said are being used for remote monitoring, deliver information, facilitating healthcare and educational needs. The company also retaliates its commitment to India.

As a part of CSR initiative mobile chipset giant Qualcomm is currently working on nine different projects in India through its Qualcomm Wireless Reach initiative. This program is currently in pilot with 2,000 households in the rural periphery in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

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The SootSwap app and thermal sensor connects to any Android, Brew or CDMA device and collects temperature data wirelessly and upload to servers. The families, through bank loans, will receive cookstoves developed by TERI. The full-scale project also envisages to leverage funds available in carbon markets to offset EMIs.

President and co-founder of Nexleaf Analytics Nithya Ramanathan said that their innovative SootSwap app using temperature sensor connects with mobile device and monitors the clean cookstoves. "With the combination of hardware, softweare and wireless infrastructure, we are able to collect data remotely," Ramanathan added.

TERI University vice chancellor Leena Srivastava said that it is one of the pathbreaking solution that can be rolled out nationwide. "The app together with clean cookstove solution amplifies the way forward for a larger chunk of Indian inhabitants as 600 millions use mudstoves," Srivastava said.

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Ibrahim H Rehman director at TERI social transformation division said that this program has a potential to transform lives and would turn out to be a giant leap. "The cookstove developed by TERI facilitates 40 to 45 per cent thermal efficiency. Women are encouraged to use this technology and get incentiovized," he said.

Energy and Growth Unit team leader at DFID Greg Briffa said that it was an area grappling for innovation and advanced technologies. "This can be leveraged to a billion plus households worldwide. It can also help in energy security and climate change," Briffa added.

The pilot project to be completed in six months, allows data logger to capture temperature and send information via SMS to server. The initiative also aims to credit clean cookstove user-base with appropriate incentives through carbon market. The cookstove comes with charge controller, solar panels (additional), Lithium-ion battery and 3-watt fan.

 Published in CIOL

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