Patriotic Cooking : Chakkhumgi Wainam
- eco-friendly, cost-effective and indigenous cooking mechanism

Seram Neken *

Chakhumgi Wainam - Rice Husk Stove Innovation :: Pix by Bunti Phurailatpam

Manipur does not lag behind in innovations. They frequently appear in the news. However in the absence of encouragement and support, such innovations can not be popularized up to the expectations. The state government as well as the civil society bodies may also encourage such locally made sensible products by way of providing awards and incentives to the innovators. The public also needs to give up the idea of patronizing imported products. Whenever "Lamgi Sanna Machi Sang-Ee" idiom is in our lips, our pace towards real development will ever be slow.

An LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) cylinder costs nearly five hundred rupees. It hardly lasts for a month. Besides the time spent in long queues in front of Gas Distributers, the consumer is required to regularly check the Gas News. Booking and collection of LPG is a regular headache to most families.

Use of conventional LPG is often associated with anxiety of all sorts, as Manipur frequently encounters economic blockades for one or the other reason. If there is any interruption, prices of LPG cylinders soar drastically in black market. Moreover, LPG use embodies the risk of explosion which may even lead to loss of lives and properties.

Every household in Manipur surely wish if there is any local arrangement in place of LPG cylinders. Now, the yearning has been realized with a locally made mechanism in the form of 'Chakhumgi Wainam'.

It is rightly said necessity is the mother of invention. Manipur needs innovators like Maibam Nandakumar to counter the problems of pollution, highway disturbances and economic dependence. Nandakumar has been making this cooking device at Heirangoithong Maibam Leikai, Imphal during the last two years. He has been giving employment to a few skilled workers since then.

If every household prefers this cost-effective cooking device, the business will hopefully be able to provide jobs to more and more people of the state. The success of the mission has been proved in recent times, as he could have sold more than 2500 pieces through his agents around the state. The price of the device ranges from rupees twenty-five hundred to thirty-five hundred including the charges of agents. Double cylinder models are also expected to be on sale in the near future. The device has its own igniter in the shape of a gun trigger. Really is it an up-to-date and easy to use local mechanism for the households of Manipur.

Five bags of husk is quite enough for a month of cooking in a family. Only with a single-watt battery, it can operate at ease. No complex operation required. Sensible housewives would love it. No queue at all. Blockades will no longer be a concern. In monetary value, the expenditure for a month's cooking is less than hundred rupees (for husk and electricity).

Husk, which is otherwise lying unused in bulk at rice mills, may well be utilized as valuable fuel. As compared to conventional LPG cooking, this innovation highly suits the Manipur situation in respect of economic dependence, political chaos and environmental pollution.

"Just collect a small basket of husk from a nearby rice-mill. Fill the ware with it. Put the power switch on. Pull the trigger and ignite it. Cook at ease. No need to worry for long queues and highway blockades. It's highly economic, extremely pollution-free and purely indigenous. Feel the complacency of self-reliant cooking."

In spite of having rich minerals and precious medicinal plants, Manipur has been living at the mercy of other states of India. Non-establishment of any big industry for generating employment and income of the state has resulted in economic dependence of its people on mainland Indian states.

Almost all consumer items used in the state are imported from outside the state. Right from the tooth brush to costly vehicles and from the edible oil to electronic gadgets, almost ninety nine percent consumables come from outside. Hence, the pitiable national highways of the state have become lifelines of the people of Manipur.

Highway drivers have been risking their lives in order to feed the millions of inhabitants of this hill-locked region. Business people are at the same time reaping the best at their advantage in the name of insurgency, blockade, strikes etc. As long as Manipur remains dependent on other states, the question of freedom, integrity and peace will be a far cry. It is therefore expedient for the Manipuris to explore indigenously designed lifestyles. Locally produced consumables need to be popularized to outdo imported products.

Manipur does not lag behind in innovations. They frequently appear in the news. However in the absence of encouragement and support, such innovations can not be popularized up to the expectations. The state government as well as the civil society bodies may also encourage such locally made sensible products by way of providing awards and incentives to the innovators. The public also needs to give up the idea of patronizing imported products. Whenever "Lamgi Sanna Machi Sang-Ee" idiom is in our lips, our pace towards real development will ever be slow.

'Chakhumgi Wainam', as an innovative cooking device may well replace all other conventional cooking mechanisms in every kitchen of the state. Patronizing such an indigenously designed, highly economic, eco-friendly and easily available apparatus is definitely an expression of love of motherland Manipur. Let us switch on to 'Chakhumgi Wainam' for a patriotic cooking.