RUCHI - Cold Storage

Partner:                   Rural centre for human interests (RUCHI) 

Title of placement:  Neri Ratoli Cold Storage, India

Location:                  India 

Start date:               1st July 2009

Duration:                 3 months

No. of volunteers:   2

A 3-month placement involving the design and construction of a cold storage facility in rural India which local farmers can use instead of travelling over 100 km away to the nearest store.

  

What work will I be doing?

With the help of RUCHI, farmers are increasingly diversifying the crops they grow to include flowers and potatoes. The bulbs for these crops need 6 months in a cold store and the nearest one is 100km away. The volunteer will assist RUCHI in the design and construction of a cold store. RUCHI will then be able to charge farmers for the use of this facility thus generating an income which can fund other parts of RUCHIs work.

 

  • Design a low cost cold store.

  • Establish the economics of the system and the prices which RUCHI should charge

    Construct the cold store in the village of Neriratoli.

  • Start the roll out the building of cold stores in nearby villages
 

Who will I be working for?

RUCHI began in October 1980 in a remote village in Chopal in Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh. It was created in order to provide a platform to initiate the process of development at the grass roots level. RUCHI’s head office is currently located in the small village of Bandh in Solan district, and works in 100 villages in the steep mountainous terrain of Sirmour and Solan districts.

The major thrust areas of RUCHI's work are: Natural Resource Management, Technology Promotion & Transfer, Education and Empowerments, Community Health Services and Media and Documentation.

RUCHI transfer their knowledge to the people through education, awareness raising and empowerment. They aim to help the underprivileged to improve their own living conditions, leading them a life of dignity and self-respect. To this end they strongly believe that participatory collective action is required for sustainable and balanced community development.

The placement is a great opportunity to live in and help a rural hill side community. RUCHI staff are locals and speak English well.

 

What skills or experience do I need?

Required:
  • Practically minded person
  • A desire to interact with those around them and ability to persevere where communication is difficult
  • University undergraduate or graduate
Desired:
  • Ability to speak Hindi
  • Knowledge of concrete construction and/or water engineering
Groups: