Oil Lamps - Where's the slick, Whats the better alternative

www.censusindia.net - or visit sample states statistics page.

Needless to say that the majority of the 120 million children in these homes have to study at the polluting kerosene wick lamp. Again they have to take their share of the lamp’s time for study with the other contending members of the family. These days with the fuel prices going so high and limited kerosene distribution taking place due to logistics issues, kerosene is becoming difficult to procure even from the public distribution system forcing the children to have difficulty in study time. Apart from this, kerosene light for study is harmful to health, hazardous and now expensive for the parents. Just to think about it...

An average kerosene wick lamp costs around Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 

To study with a wick lamp @ 2 hrs a day for 30 days consumes 2 to 3 liters. of kerosene. At subsidized rates, the 3 lts. can cost the family Rs. 33  plus the travel, time and effort to procure it from the ration shop. But this 3 liters subsidy costs the country (the tax payers) around 100 Rs every month.

An urban child daily spends anywhere from Rs. 25 to Rs. 200 of the pocket money on entertainment. 

Children from middle and rich urban areas spend much of the above amount for fast foods, toys, computer games, movies, malls and host of other things that really do not benefit them, physically or educationally.

National rural employment guarantee program pays around Rs. 100 per person a day for 100 days. 

Some of the elders from the poor families drink liquor, spending Rs.50 to Rs.200 a day. Around 60% of it goes to the local and central government as taxes.

Surely in the coming days, chances of people giving up liquor is less, chances of urban children spend lesser on entertainment is lesser, and chances of kerosene prices coming down is least.

LED Study Lights - The Best Solution

Emerging LED lighting technology which is semiconductor based presents a wonderful solution to this simple lighting issue. With the white LED revolution it is now possible to provide a simple light suitable for reading purpose that consumes less than a quarter watt but provides 10 to 50 times more useable light than a wick lamp. LED Lights such as the OneChildOneLight LED Study Light can give long hours of light with simple reliable and re-chargeable NiMh batteries which can be charged through any popular mobile charger or through solar.

Phasing out usage of Kerosene by providing such cost effective, eco-friendly, and efficient lighting solutions will directly help us reduce our carbon footprint to a great extent.