Chandigarh: In a bid to spread awareness among school children about the applications of renewable energy sources, the Haryana government has introduced solar education kits in its senior secondary schools, officials announced on Monday.

"Solar education kits have been introduced in the schools to educate the students about the potential of renewable energy. Haryana is the first state to take this unique initiative," Mahender Partap Singh, Haryana power and renewable energy minister said.

He added, "In the first phase, 2,000 senior secondary schools of 13 districts of the state, namely Bhiwani, Sirsa, Panipat, Karnal, Kaithal, Rewari, Rohtak, Jind, Jhajjar, Fatehabad, Gurgaon, Ambala and Panchkula have been covered at a cost of Rs.80 lakh. This cost will be borne by the state and centre on a 50:50 sharing basis."

The solar education kits consist of a mini fan, LED lamps, solar radio, solar toy car, door bell, house name plate, traffic signal lights, solar pump, solar insulation meter, thermometer, solar panel and cell current display.

"This is a very informative kit. The cost of one solar education kit is approximately Rs.4,000," Singh pointed out.

Sumita Misra, director of renewable energy department said, "These education kits would be used in the science laboratories to educate the students about the solar photovoltaic technology and its uses with small live models of mini fan, solar radio and solar toy car."

"We have already taken up the matter with the central government to release its 50 percent share of Rs.20 lakh to provide solar education kits in the remaining 1,000 senior secondary schools of seven remaining districts," Misra added.

The other districts that will be covered in the second phase over the next three months are Hisar, Kurukshetra, Palwal, Faridabad, Narnaul, Sonepat and Yamunanagar. IANS