Two assistant professors from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda have developed a solar-powered food cart design to promote sustainable cooking and reduce pollution. Dr. Sarjoo Patel and Dr. Urvashi Mishra from the Department of Family and Community Resource Management, Faculty of Family and Community Science, have received a patent for their design and plan to approach the government and NGOs for the launch of the project.
The researchers received support and grant-in-aid from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) under the Impactful Policy Research in Social Science (IMPRESS Scheme) to conduct their research. In the course of their research, they met with around 300 food stall owners in Vadodara and conducted workshops to educate them on the environmental effects of current fuel use.
Their design features a well-organized space for storing solar-operated equipment such as batteries, generators, and utensils, as well as a separate section for cooking materials and food supplies. The researchers aim to spread awareness by displaying the prototype in exhibitions at MSU.
