ASTRA oles, which are fuel-efficient, smokeless stoves, have become popular in rural Karnataka households. Introduced by ASTRA in three Karnataka villages -- Unchige, Pura and Ungra -- the stoves drew such favourable response the state government's department of rural development took on the task of distributing them in 1983.

The block development officer in each taluka procures the stove's components and arranges for the stove-builder to set up the stove in the household. The stove cost about Rs 120 in 1987 and carries a subsidy of Rs 76. It is distributed free to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households. Nearly 25 per cent of the stoves supplied were financed by the Union department of non-conventional energy sources.

An ASTRA survey in 150 villages on acceptance of the stove and its condition showed the rejection rate was only 20 per cent. Strangely, the rejection rate among scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households was 26 per cent, compared to 12 per cent among upper caste households. The higher rejection rate in SC/ST households probably was due to a tendency among officials keen to meet targets forcing the stoves on people without apprising them on how to use and maintain them.

The feedback also resulted in some modifications being made. Reducers were designed so that the stoves could accept vessels of a wide range of sizes. Stronger material such as ceramic or soil cement were incorporated to prevent frequent damage to the stove tops. It was also discovered two-pan stoves seemed to be generally inferior in saving fuel because of the poorer resistance they presented to the flow of gases. Based on these findings, an improved design with much less heat loss was promoted.

K S Jagadish, who conducted many studies on the stove's social acceptance, said, "Conceptually, the stove is very important as it saves upto 19 per cent fuel, compared to traditional stoves. The design has been a success and that is proven by the work of the voluntary sector in promoting it. But the voluntary sector cannot take the stove to every village.

"The government undertook to implement the improved stove programme, but its pattern of implementation has been horrendous. More than 400,000 stoves are reported to have been built by the government, but nobody knows where they are. "Our survey showed more than 25 per cent of the stoves don't exist and 30 per cent have been badly built by badly trained, if not totally untrained, personnel. In the absence of any follow-up, the people rejected these stoves."