IDE treadle pump wins prestigious Ashden Award

Amitabha Sadangi being congratulated by HRH The Prince of Wales

IDE India took home a prestigious award from the 2006 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy held at the Royal Geographical Society in London on 15th June.  The Ashden Awards is the world’s leading green energy award scheme and annually recognises outstanding and innovative projects which tackle climate change and improve quality of life through the generation of sustainable energy at a local level. 

Named as one of the five first prize winners in the International category, IDE India was recognised for its exceptional work in marketing the treadle pump which was cited by the judges as “a simple sustainable technology which helps poor farmers achieve massive improvements in yield and income.”  Furthermore it was praised for its environmentally friendly design which also gives poor farmers a more cost-effective alternative to the modern diesel pump.

Ajay Pratap Singh is a treadle pump user in the Uttar Pradesh region of India.  He says: “I used to have to pay around INR 3,000 every year to hire the diesel pump and buy in water too.  I paid INR 1,200 for the treadle pump and the tubewell, and all I have to do is buy new washers and a valve each year – and they cost nothing really.  I have so much more money!”

The £30,000 prize was collected by IDE India Country Director Amitabha Sadangi.   Says Amitabha:  "It is easy to feel despair when we read about the tragedies in the world, but when I look at the Ashden winners I feel hope. We will use this money to introduce treadle pumps in the state of Chattisgarh, India. These treadle pumps will help people to increase productivity and reduce poverty"