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I would now like to focus on some novel products and services. Water prospecting by the Vertical Electrical Sounding method has been one of the most popular and unique services, of a strategic value to the rural area. Added to this, we have been making and selling the electronic instrument for this also on a low profit basis. The total value of the tests done till now is in the order of 17 lakh rupees (1700 tests that cost commercially about Rs. 1000 per test now.) Two of our staff members set up their own enterprise, in the neighborhood. The Rural Lab, giving medical diagnostic service has been operating on no-profit no- loss basis for about 6-7 years and has a net collection of about Rs. 390 p.m. This is not a large sum but the service is most appreciated and very strategic. This is a good example of a semi-commercial service that is very important but not very good as income generating. It has a regular stream of girls coming for training. There is scope for novel products of rural significance. I can give example of electronic products, (beside the ERM) and also engineering designs. The geodesic dome was a good operation until we set up one of the boys to do it as a commercial operation, which it is to this day. We now have the MechBull, which is likely to repeat the story. In the construction, there is consistent demand for boys to build geodesic domes, but we are not doing it on our own. We pass the orders on to our ex-students who have become contractors. As the service requires staying outside for extended periods, we find it difficult to organise. But it has tremendous potential, perhaps in tens of lakhs per year The Magnitude of the Community Services: We shall now consider the magnitude of the services provided from the schools. Vigyan Ashram is an educational and a development Rural Development Through Education System 82
