Heating for all

The coldest part of the Kashmiri winter – Chillai Kalan – is already underway.  We have cold days and colder nights. There is nothing unusual in this, as it is the season of cold.

The question here is that what are our ways to defend ourselves from cold. At some point in the history of this place, someone must have applied his mind and given birth to Kangri – a portable, cost effective and efficient means of warmth.

But given the lifestyle, and needs of life now, Kangri doesn't suffice. One thing that could make a difference to the lives of people in Kashmir is a heating arrangement at homes, and work places, that is affordable to all.

Unfortunately, we have not succeeded in having a cost effective, yet efficient, heating arrangement for our people. The electricity run appliances, like Air Conditioners and electric floors, are not affordable for the majority of our people.

The traditional hamams are again not for every house to enjoy. Further the wood required for this burs a hole in the pocket.  Then we are left with low cost electric blowers that are in huge supply in the market, but it is not an efficient and safe heating appliance.

Same is the case with LPG run Bukhairs. They are not safe at all. We have had many cases where people lost lives because it burs oxygen in the room and causes suffocation.

Now the question: a time when we talk of entrepreneurship, can our youngsters in technical colleges think of some heating appliance that is efficient and cost effective.

That would change our life in winters. They can also apply their minds to tweak the already available appliances that come to Kashmir from different parts of the globe.