Energy surveys/ studies

To study the pattern of energy use in the rural households, MCRC has carried out pioneering studies in several rural areas, in particular,in the isolated region of the lakshadweep islands, Niligris hills, Kumaon hills in the Himalayas etc. Expertise have been recommending to the Govt. agencies for the optimal use of renewable resource in these areas. Plantation crops for energy, especially the cultivation of casuarina equisitifolia to develop wastelands is an important areas of activity. Also MCRC has been involved in developing simple adaptable techniques in the energy sector that could be a dovetailed to any simple need.

Sustainable fresh water supply to Chennai city

A mammoth fresh water crisis awaits the future generation in India. The crisis will not be due to the lack of fresh water as such, but the availability of adequate quantity water at the right places and required time to meet basic needs. The emerging global fresh water crisis is already visible in India, involving enormous social, political and environmental costs which are affecting the economy and quality of life. The fresh water crisis is not the result of natural factors such as drought, but has been caused by humans, by increased pollution of both surface and ground water, improper water resource management and the shortcomings in the design and implementation of legislation and regulations which address these problems. The objective of the study was to provide insights for policies and programme on fresh water management in India through an analysis of the trends in water availability and its use at the local level. The intention was to examine the water situation and approaches being used by people at the urban areas, a large city- in five different ecological regions of the country, in order to achieve an assured supply of household water and utilise it for productive activities with related impacts on the ecosystem. The insights were used in a synthesis report to suggest a set of policy and programme recommendations aimed primarily at the state and at national level, but with implications for the strategies and programmatic support provided by UNICEF and WWF in India. MCRC undertook such a study for the Chennai water basin.

NGOs Directory

MCRC has compiled a directory on voluntary organisations working in Tamil Nadu on behalf of CAPART, Hyderabad and Development Alternatives (DA), New Delhi.
CAPART requires this information to disseminate its activities through networking, while DA plans to list them into the internet. Addresses of 2,400 NGOs were collected and contacted. Only 822 NGOs responded. Based on certain criteria, 203 NGOs were visited by MCRC personnel. The profile of 203 NGOs were sent to Development Alternatives, whereas 822 NGOs profiles will be available in the directory.

Promotion of voluntary blood donation

In Chennai, where the number of road accidents is on the increase, the need for timely blood transfusion is vital. The demand for blood is increasing day by day. This is mainly because of the prevailing gap between the donors and receivers (hospitals). To bridge the communication gap between these two entities and also to find out the status of blood donation and the role of blood banks, hospitals, voluntary organisations, other organisations and individuals, a survey was conducted. The result obtained shows that the demand is still not fulfilled. This study was sponsored by National Council for Science and Technology Communication, Department of Science and Technology.

TORBED survey