The role of civil society in influencing public opinion towards more democratic and developmental approaches is now well-recognized in diverse fields such as health, education, livelihoods, issues relating to disadvantaged social groups and the environment.  Yet, science and technology in India is predominantly seen as the preserve of the state, and more recently the market.  In the linear model of innovation, civil society is seen at best as having a role in extension or the delivery of technology produced elsewhere.  This paper, a study of science in civil society, questions this assumption through the case study of the work of a civil society-led initiative in spirulina algal technology.  It highlights the need for an institutional transformation of the scientific establishment into learning organizations if they are to focus on development with a pro-poor or human face.

The performance and impact of a decentralized biomass gasifier-based power generation system in an unelectrified village are presented. In Hosahalli village, Karnataka, India, lighting, drinking water, irrigation water and flour-milling services are provided using power derived from the biomass gasifier-based power generation system. The system consists of a 20 kW gasifier-engine generator system with all the accessories for fuel processing and electricity distribution. The biomass power system has functioned for over 14 years (1988–2004) in Hosahalli village (population of 218 during 2003), meeting all the electricity needs of the village. Lighting and piped drinking water supply using biomass electricity was provided for over 85% of the days during the past six years. The fuel, operation and maintenance cost ranged from Rs 5.85/kWh at a load of 5 kW to Rs 3.34/kWh at a load of 20 kW. Technical, social, economic and management-related lessons learnt are presented here.

Supplying modern energy services to the 2 billion people who still cook with traditional solid fuels and lack access to electricity is probably one of the most pressing problems facing humanity today. The amount of energy needed to satisfy the basic needs of rural populations around the world is relatively small, and appropriate technologies are available. However, widening access to modern energy services is limited by the extreme poverty found particularly in the least developed countries. Living standards in rural areas can be significantly improved by promoting a shift from direct combustion of biomass fuels (dung, crop residues, and fuelwood) or coal in inefficient and polluting stoves to clean, efficient liquid or gaseous fuels and electricity. Although consumers tend to shift to these modern, higher-quality energy carriers as their incomes rise and the carriers become more affordable, the process is slow. Yet a shift to such carriers can reduce the damage to human health and the drudgery associated with continued reliance on inefficient, polluting solid fuels. This chapter describes experience with and prospects for improving the technologies used to cook with biomass in several countries, as well as the development of clean, non-toxic cooking fuels. Progress in rural electrification—using both centralised, grid-based approaches and small-scale, decentralized technologies—is also described. Technological developments alone, however, will not improve access or promote greater equity. New institutional measures are also needed, including financing to cover the initial capital costs of devices and equipment. Energy initiatives will be most successful when integrated with other policies that promote development. And because local populations will ultimately use, maintain, and pay for energy services, they should be involved in making decisions about energy systems. _