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BPCL in collaboration with construction major Shapoorji Pallonji and Nandan Biomatrix Ltd, is forming a joint venture, with an investment of Rs. 2,132 crore (US$ 533 million) over the next ten years, to cultivate, extract, and sell jatropha-based bio-diesel. (Detailed Report). On an average, Rs. 200 crore (US$ 50 million) will be spent every year over the next ten years. Out of this, Rs. 150 crore (US$ 35 million) will spent as wages to workers working in plantations. If the fair average salary is considered as Rs. 100 per days, and 150 working days in a year, this will provide employment to 100,000 landless labourers, from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states.
In India, BioFuel is not of special importance for TRANSPORT FUEL or ENERGY SECURITY, but for the UPLIFTMENT of RURAL POOR, which are neglected by the booming IT industry and urban middle class and for CORRECTING CLIMATE IMBALANCE. To reduce the widening gap, Biofuel production offers chances for social and rural development amongst some of the world's poorest people, namely farmers in developing countries. By cultivating energy crops, these communities can diversify their crop portfolio, generate substantial incomes and hence increase their economic power and ultimately their food security, health and well being. On the level of the state, biofuel production can cut fossil fuel imports and dependency, and thus free up funds that can be invested in social and economic development.
The ex-President of India and Eminent Scientist, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has understood the importance of Jatropha and he advocates its plantation in every lecture. He has also planted 800 Jatropha plants in Presidential (Mogul) Gardens.

The main goal of my work is to enable communities in rural India to develop alternative energy options that will be good for the environment and help promote sustainable livelihoods in the region, without exposing them to such adverse effects of modernization as cultural transformations, and allowing them to retain independence in the face of globalization.
Economic development in India has led to huge increases in the energy demand. The recognition that conventional energy sources are the major cause of climate change, leads to understanding that clean renewable energy technologies are to be widely introduced. In this respect switching from Fossil Fuels or other Green House Gas (GHG)-emitting sources to renewable sources of energy makes sense for the climate, the environment and sustainable society.
I would like to focus my activities on income improvement through the establishment of the Jatropha / Castor cultivation and local, community-based production of environmentally friendly fuel. I would like to explore how the permanent exploitation of the different aspects of Jatropha curcas might be a real alternative to the common carbon-based fuel for energy production. I would like to contribute to improvement of Jatropha / Castor System which benefit four main aspects of development and secure a sustainable way of life for village farmers and the land that supports them.

1. Renewable Energy
2. Erosion Control and Soil Improvement
3. Promotion of Women employment
4. Poverty Reduction.

1. Make Jatropha / Castor cultivation a low-risk venture with attractive returns.

2. Help attract private investors in cultivation of Jatropha / Castor and other non-edible oil seeds.

3. Promote and recognize endeavors to build technical capacities of rural entrepreneurs.

4. Help create new work opportunities in Jatropha / Castor cultivation and BioGas related sectors.

5. Highlight environmental and social integration of Jatropha / Castor cultivation systems in rural communities.

6. Provide gender sensitive socio-economic and environmental analysis of Jatropha / Castor cultivation in rural communities.

Attention to gender will be of my special concern with aims to improve the position of women through energy related income generating projects. I want to pay particular attention to the inclusion of women in Jatropha / Castor System to ensure that the interests of local women are represented. Stakeholder selection will be inclusive.
Barriers to implementation are very important factors to consider because technologies do not exist locally, but within specific cultural contexts, they will have to be effectively implemented. Any economic and development projects in these areas may affect the integrity of the region. In addition to the economic and political differences between regions, some areas have special geographical characteristics. To be fully effective, Jatropha / Castor cultivation and biodiesel production system should involve the identification of natural resource use patterns and potential conflicts among users and affected stakeholders in order to formulate a comprehensive energy strategy that is coordinated among different sectors and levels of government.
The results will be easily measurable. Most of communities are very small, so the differences may be observed by actual count of the beginning and ending conditions and the results quantified. There will be a subjective component from the residents about any "quality of life" improvements, along with some assessment of where incomes have been improved in sustainable ways.
In summary, what motivates me most is the quest for sustainable energy development approaches that are tailored to the needs of the communities and to the geographical specificities of a region.

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