The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has developed an Indian Standard, IS 17693: 2022 for ‘non-electric cooling cabinet made of clay’. The eco-friendly ‘Mitticool refrigerator’ is innovated by Mansukh Bhai Prajapati. He hails from Gujarat.
Mitticool refrigerator
Inspired by #Gujarat earthquake in 2001, Mansukhbhai designed the green fridge that provides coolness w/o electricity pic.twitter.com/RdGgArnjvJ— Indian Diplomacy (@IndianDiplomacy) November 28, 2016
The BIS standard specifies the construction and performance requirements of a cooling cabinet made out of clay, which operates on the principle of evaporative cooling. These cabinets may be used to store perishable foodstuff without the need of electricity, reads a Consumer Affairs ministry press release.
‘This standard helps BIS in fulfilling 6 out of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like: No poverty, Zero hunger, Gender equality, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and Responsible consumption and production’, added the press release.
It is a natural refrigerator made primarily from clay to store vegetables, fruits, milk, and also for cooling water. It provides natural coolness to foodstuffs stored in it without requiring any electricity. Fruits, vegetables, and milk can be stored reasonably fresh without deteriorating their quality, the release further added.
The efficacy of the product is boundless. To name a few, it is playing an influential role in reviving the pottery culture, tradition, and heritage; connecting people back to roots in better healthier ways; promoting sustainable consumption; economically empowering the indigent community; working towards green and cool earth, economic development and employment generation; and finally contributing towards rural women upliftment and making them financially independent.
‘Mitticool Refrigerator’ was exhibited at the fourth batch of Innovations Scholars In-residence Programme held at Rashtrapati Bhawan (2017) in partnership with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) that scouts, supports, and spawns grassroot innovations developed by individuals and local communities in any technological field, helping in product and professional development without any help from the formal sector.
Refrigeration is a food storage technique that prevents bacterial growth thereby increasing its shelf life and making it fit for consumption.
In this era, where the world is dominated by technology and advancement, there are people in our country who still bank on traditional cooling. Clay pots have been an integral part of Indian kitchens until factory-made products of a variety of materials invaded the market.
BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods.