CHENNAI: Looking for an
eco-friendly solar lamp to tide over the power cuts? You might be able to pick
up one at your neighbourhood post office. The Chennai circle of India Post is
selling solar lamps through 19 post offices across Tamil Nadu to give a fillip to its
retail post initiative.
"The demand has been
on the rise so we will make the lamps available in other post offices
too," says M S Ramanujan, postmaster general. The department started
selling solar lamps in Chengalpet from September 2011. In February, post
offices in Vellore and Kanchipuram started selling the lamps to cover areas
such as Madurantakam, Tiruporur, Uttiramerur, Sriperumbudur, Tiruvallur,
Tiruttani, and Sathuvacheri.
"In the last month
nearly 1,000 lamps were sold by the new centres," says an official. The
demand is probably driven by the daily power cuts across the state.
The department sells three kinds of lamps
with LED lights and integrated solar panels that can be
charged in the sun. The prices range from Rs 399 to Rs 1,699, and come with
high and low settings or a facility to charge mobile phones, depending on the
model. "Once the lamps are fully charged they can be used for four to
eight hours," says Ramanujan.
The department decided to sell solar lamps after
successfully retailing gold coins and university application forms, and opening
counters to accept utility bills. "We were forced to look at various
options after the internet and other forms of communication eroded our
traditional mail base," he says.
After a solar lamp manufacturer approached the
department, it decided to start selling the lamps in rural areas. "Our
biggest advantage is our network, especially in rural areas. The demand has
gone up with power cuts and the beginning of the exam season," says
Ramanujan.
To cater to the demand, the department has
placed orders with a few more companies. However, supply is not sufficient to
meet the rising demand. "Every household needs at least two lamps and that
is tough to meet," he says.
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