4.12 During the year 2002-03, over 5000 box solar cookers were sold till 31.12.2002 making a total of 5,30,000 cookers sold in the country till date. Cooking demonstrations, competitions, publicity and awareness promotion activities are being carried out in several states. Such activities have been reported in U.P., M.P. and Pondicherry.

4.13 On community solar cooking, the World's largest solar steam cooking system for cooking food for around 15000 people per day was installed at the temple town of Tirumala by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasathan, Andhra Pradesh. (For details see Box Item) Another system for 2000 people was erected at Brahmakumari's Ashram, Gurgaon in Haryana and is functioning since July 2002. This system has been designed, to generate around 900 kg of steam per day and has been installed by the team of Brahmakumari's workers only. In addition a system for 500 people was installed in September 2002 at Rishi Valley School, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. In all, 6 such systems have been installed in the country under the MNES demonstration scheme. Three community cookers for indoor cooking were also installed at a training hostel and an NGO's establishment in Leh and are functioning satisfactorily. A total of around 500 dish solar cookers and 60 community solar cookers for indoor cooking have been installed so far in the country.