![]() Almost the same time, Mansukhbhai came into the contact of Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN), Ahmedabad. Though he started thinking about it after the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, it was 2002 when he actually started his work. This caption ignited a thought in him to work on a rural fridge that did not need electricity and could be used by masses. In February 2001, Sandesh Gujarati Daily had a photo feature on the earthquake where at one place it showed a broken water filter of Mansukhbhai with the caption ‘the broken fridge of poor’. He distributed the stock that escaped the quake to the quake affected people of Kutch. In the fateful earthquake of January 2001, Mansukhbhai suffered huge loss, as most of his stock got broken. However, he adds, the fridge gives better cooling if placed near a fan. Hence, no special care needs to be taken. ![]() But if you ask me I would say that the fridge will last for five years, because over the years, the cooling decreases.” Baking the clay used for manufacturing the fridge at 1200 ✬ makes it very strong. “In fact,” says Mansukhbhai jokingly, “my fridge is attracting more customers from urban areas than rural areas.” On being asked about the durability and strength of the fridge, he says, “I have sold many fridges in the market, but haven’t received any complaints so far. Moreover, with electricity still being a luxury in many Indian villages, this fridge can be used in rural areas as well. My fridge takes care of these problems as well.” It helps save a considerable amount of energy. Says the innovator, “For the poor, the cost of the fridge is not the only consideration, additional maintenance costs such as electricity is also a big concern. This also helps preserve food items like fruits and vegetables, which can be stored up to six days, and liquids like milk up to three days.” The fridge gives a higher cooling effect in a dry climate compared to a humid one. This has several health benefits as well. Unlike the fridges used normally in homes, the water that is stored in the clay tanks is cooled naturally. This helps to preserve the food for days. The water from the upper chamber drips down to the sides, taking the heat from the inside thus leaving the chambers cool. The water tanks cool the sides of the fridge in the same manner as clay pots used to cool water during summers. The fridge also has a cabinet to store food items. It has two large tanks, one at the top and and the other at the bottom with a capacity to store approximately 20 L of water. The refrigerator works on the principle of evaporation. Mansukhbhai Raghavbhai Prajapati, a Gujarat-based potter, makes this fridge that uses no electricity. The innovative fridge cools water naturally while keeping food such as vegetables, fruits, and liquids fresh for several days. The Mitti Cool Refrigerator is a low cost refrigerator made of clay that can run without electricity.
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