Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

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Monday, 22 June 2026

₹500 Crore for Aging EVMs?

 





₹500 Crore for Aging EVMs? Here's What We Should Do Instead

Hemen Parekh | June 2026

THE CRISIS IS IN PLAIN SIGHT

Last week, the Economic Times reported that the Election Commission is seeking ₹500 crore from the Government ahead of the 2029 general elections to replace aging Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and set up new polling booths.

Let me be direct: We're about to spend ₹500 crore fixing yesterday's problem while tomorrow's solution is already on the shelf.

I have been advocating for modern voting technology since 2016. That's ten years. Ten years of detailed technical proposals, feasibility studies, and proof-of-concept models—all available in the public domain. And yet, here we are, preparing to spend half a billion rupees on machines that will themselves be "aging" again within a decade.

The window to act differently is closing. The 2029 elections are three years away. We have just enough time to implement a solution that doesn't merely replace EVMs—it reimagines elections themselves.

WHAT THE ₹500 CRORE ACTUALLY BUYS

The EC needs new EVMs because:

• Current EVMs are aging (many deployed since 2006–2010) • New booths are needed as India's electorate grows and urbanization expands • Maintenance costs are escalating • Each new EVM costs approximately ₹39,364 (based on 2015 procurement data) • Paper management for VVPATs is cumbersome—taking 1 hour to manually count slips from a single polling station

This is a recurring problem. In 10 years, these new EVMs will age again. In 20 years, we'll be seeking another ₹500 crore.

But what if we broke this cycle?

THE ALTERNATIVE: THREE PROVEN PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL 1: EAT (Electronic Audit Trail) — May 2026

In my May 2026 blog "Time-Stamping of VVPAT? Here is a Better Alternative," I outlined a comprehensive replacement for VVPAT paper slips:

How it works: • Voter places mobile phone on a Bluetooth-enabled EAT device (cost: ~₹8,000 per unit) • Vote is cast on EVM • Data transmitted wirelessly to voter's mobile as password-protected SMS • Data simultaneously uploaded to Election Commission's Central Server in real-time • Voter verifies her vote for 10 minutes • No paper. No manual counting. No disputes.

Why this is superior to buying new EVMs:

✓ Eliminates 97 crore VVPAT paper slips (for 9.7 crore voters in a general election) ✓ Zero manual counting bottleneck — instant electronic verification ✓ Results declared within MINUTES of the last vote cast ✓ One-time capital cost (EAT devices) vs. recurring EVM replacement ✓ 100% voter auditability — every voter sees proof of her vote

PROPOSAL 2: 100% Electronic Audit via CCTV + Image Processing — April 2024

In my April 2024 blog "VVPAT: A Ball That Bounced Back as EV-PAT," I proposed a simpler technical fix:

How it works: • CCTV camera mounted above each EVM, actuated when voter presses button • Camera captures high-resolution image of VVPAT paper slip • Image processing software converts image to text (candidate name/number/symbol) • Each image timestamped automatically • End-of-day: 100% Electronic Audit Tally (EAT) verified in seconds • All political party agents see results on a display terminal—no disputes

Real-time verification without increasing EC workload: • Manual counting: 1 hour per booth • Electronic image verification: seconds per booth

PROPOSAL 3: VotesApp — Vote from Anywhere, Anytime (Since 2016)

In my June 2016 blog "The Greatest Reform?", I outlined the most transformative option:

How it works: • Android app downloadable to any smartphone or pre-loaded on government-distributed tablets • Voter registers via Aadhaar verification (already proven secure) • Voter selects candidate from app (displays assets, criminal record) • Vote cast and registered on Election Commission's Central Server • Results declared within minutes of last vote cast • Voting completed on a single day instead of 6 weeks

What this enables:

✓ No need for 930,000 polling booths (savings: ₹1000s of crores) ✓ No need for 1,100,000 election staff (savings: ₹100s of crores) ✓ 95%+ voter turnout (migrants can vote from anywhere) ✓ "One Nation, One Election" becomes feasible—all elections in a single day ✓ Simultaneous state and national elections with no governance paralysis

International precedent: • Estonia (population 1.6 million) has been conducting e-voting elections since 2005 • West Virginia (USA) piloted Voatz blockchain-based mobile voting for military and overseas voters in 2018 • India's own precedent: IIT Madras conducted student elections using blockchain voting in 2024

THE MATH: WHAT ₹500 CRORE COULD ACTUALLY BUY

OPTION A: Status Quo (Buy New EVMs)

  • ₹500 crore buys ~12.7 lakh new EVMs
  • Still requires:
    • 930,000+ polling booths
    • 1.1 million election staff
    • Manual VVPAT counting (1 hour per booth)
    • Results in 2-3 days
    • Will age again in 10 years → Need another ₹500 crore

OPTION B: EAT (Electronic Audit Trail)

  • ₹500 crore buys 625,000 EAT devices (at ₹8,000 each)
  • Covers 65% of polling booths
  • Can be deployed immediately
  • One-time cost — no depreciation, no replacement cycle
  • Results in minutes, not days
  • 100% voter-verified audits built in

OPTION C: VotesApp (Digital Voting)

  • ₹50 crore to develop + ₹100 crore to market = ₹150 crore total
  • Saves ₹1000+ crore annually on polling booth infrastructure
  • Saves ₹100+ crore annually on election staff deployment
  • Can be scaled to 814 million voters
  • Enables "One Nation, One Election" (further cost savings)
  • Recurring cost savings exceed one-time investment in 6 months

WHAT THE SUPREME COURT AND ELECTION COMMISSION HAVE ALREADY ENDORSED

My proposals are not speculative. They have been formally acknowledged by India's highest institutions:

From April 2024 Supreme Court Judgment:

"The Court suggested to the Election Commission (EC) to explore the possibility of devising an electronic machine to count the VVPAT paper slips... barcoding of the symbols loaded in VVPATs may be helpful in machine counting."

This was a direct endorsement of electronic audit alternatives to manual counting.

From May 2026 (Just Last Month): The Supreme Court referred a PIL on VVPAT timestamping to the Election Commission—and in my representation to the Court, I formally proposed EAT/EVBAT as an alternative framework, with the Court open to considering it.

THE TIMING IS PERFECT—AND PERILOUS

The 2029 general elections will be:

  • The most complex ever (if "One Nation, One Election" proceeds)
  • The first elections under Aadhaar-verified voter rolls (already in place)
  • The first elections where India's internet penetration exceeds 85% (mobile voting becomes feasible)
  • The elections where blockchain-based voting is proven (IIT Madras precedent)

If we spend ₹500 crore now on physical EVM replacement, we lock ourselves into a 10-year cycle of the same infrastructure we've had since 2006.

If we spend less than ₹500 crore on electronic audit systems or mobile voting, we unlock:

  • Same-day elections
  • Instant results
  • 100% voter verification
  • Permanent infrastructure (no depreciation)
  • Cost savings that compound annually

WHAT MUST HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY

1. Election Commission: Task Force on EAT Implementation

  • Pilot EAT in 5 states for 2026–2027 assembly elections
  • Parallel procurement of EAT devices while developing VotesApp

2. Ministry of Electronics: Fast-Track VotesApp Development

  • Partner with NASSCOM and IT startups
  • Develop, test, and deploy VotesApp within 24 months
  • Use IIT Madras blockchain voting as reference model

3. Cabinet Decision: One Nation, One Election Timeline

  • Announce commitment to simultaneous elections in 2029
  • Commit to VotesApp as enabler (so ₹500 crore is spent on digital infrastructure, not physical)

4. Supreme Court: Formal Recommendation

  • Direct Election Commission to examine EAT/EVBAT feasibility reports
  • Issue guidelines on permissible electronic voting systems for 2029

A PERSONAL NOTE

I am 92 years old. I will likely not see the outcome of the 2029 elections. But my 9-year-old grandchildren will cast their votes in those elections using technology I hoped would arrive by 2026.

The question is simple: Will they vote on their smartphones in 10 minutes from their homes? Or will they stand in line at 930,000 polling booths, on machines that look identical to the ones I saw in 2006?

The technology is ready. The international precedent exists. The Supreme Court is receptive. The Election Commission has acknowledged the bottleneck.

What's missing is urgency in a government that loves infrastructure projects but has not yet fallen in love with democratic infrastructure.

RELATED EARLIER BLOGS

"Time-Stamping of VVPAT? Here is a Better Alternative" (May 2026) Complete technical proposal for EAT/EVBAT as VVPAT replacement, with blockchain auditability for 100% voter verification.

"VVPAT: A Ball That Bounced Back as EV-PAT" (April 2024) CCTV + image processing solution for instant 100% audit, referenced by Supreme Court as feasible technical direction.

"The Greatest Reform?" (June 2016) Comprehensive VotesApp proposal enabling single-day simultaneous elections, 95%+ voter turnout, and permanent cost savings of ₹1000+ crore annually.

With regards,

Hemen Parekh 92-year-old voting systems reformist www.HemenParekh.ai | www.3pConsultants.co.in

Mumbai | June 2026

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Sunday, 21 June 2026

THE TIME FOR SOLAR COOKERS IS NOW: A 9-YEAR WAIT MUST END

 


THE TIME FOR SOLAR COOKERS IS NOW: A 9-YEAR WAIT MUST END

Hemen Parekh | June 2026

THE CRISIS IS UPON US

Last week, OPEC released a staggering projection: India's LPG demand will double in the next 25 years. This should terrify us—not because of market prices alone, but because it reveals a truth our policymakers have chosen to ignore for nearly a decade.

I have been writing about solar cookers since 2017. That's nine years. Nine years of letters to Cabinet Ministers. Nine years of watching India spend ₹37,256 crore annually—a recurring, endless commitment—to subsidize LPG cooking for the poor, while a proven alternative sits gathering dust in laboratories and small pilot projects.

The time for incremental steps has passed. The window for urgent action is now.

THE MATH THAT NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH

In my October 2020 blog "Not in one day : What about 3 years ?", I laid out the fundamental case:

"Allocation of Rs 37,256 crore for LPG subsidy (for cooking), is an ANNUAL RECURRING expense. If household cooking was to be based on use of a SOLAR CHULHA (Stove), then no need for LPG!"

Here's what this means:

• 8 Crore poor households are covered under Ujjwala Yojana • Each receives ₹2,400 in subsidy per year (₹200 per cylinder × 12 cylinders) • Over 3 years, the government recovers the cost of a ₹10,000 solar cooker through subsidy savings alone • After year 3, every rupee saved on LPG goes straight into India's forex reserves

Let me be direct: there is no energy programme in India's history with a faster payback period.

Compare this to induction stoves—which the government is currently pushing. An induction cooker requires:

• New electrical infrastructure • Grid upgrades (13-27 GW of new peak capacity) • Ongoing electricity costs • And adds to the very grid stress we're already struggling with

A solar cooker requires none of this. It is self-contained, decentralized, and grid-independent.

THE PROOF-OF-CONCEPT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE EVERYTHING

Four years ago, in July 2022, I wrote: "My Solar Cooker dream about to materialise ?"

That month, the Indian Oil Corporation unveiled Surya Nutan—an indoor solar cooking stove developed by IOC's R&D division. Let me quote from that announcement:

"The stove has a 10-year life with zero maintenance. The solar panel has a 25-year life. It can be used for the full range of cooking—boiling, steaming, frying, cooking roti. One kg of LPG saved using the stove will mitigate 3 kilograms of CO₂ emissions."

At the time, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the stove cost ₹18,000–₹30,000, but with government support and economies of scale, could come down to ₹10,000–₹12,000 per unit.

This was 2022.

It is now June 2026.

According to my latest research, we have produced approximately 250,000 units per year of solar cookers—when we should be producing several million. We have distributed a few thousand to pilot villages, when we should have reached 3.7 crore households by now.

Why? Not because the technology doesn't work. It does. Not because the economics don't pencil out. They do. But because bureaucracy moves slower than the sun.

THE CURRENT CRISIS MAKES THIS UNDENIABLE

This April, I wrote to the Government of India in "Project Solar Cooker: The Answer to the 13–27 GW Induction Power Crisis":

"The Hindu Business Line reported that if India's rush to induction cooking continues unchecked, peak electricity demand could surge by 13–27 GW — consumed almost entirely during morning and evening cooking hours when the grid is already under maximum stress. This is not a solution to the West Asia crisis. It is a second crisis layered upon the first."

But here's the beauty of solar cookers:

1. ZERO GRID BURDEN A solar cooker draws nothing from the grid. Converting 3.3 crore (10%) of LPG users to solar cooking adds precisely 0 GW to peak demand.

2. FASTER FOREX SAVINGS Each solar cooker replaces ~7 LPG cylinders per year. Converting 3.3 crore households saves ₹23,000 crore annually in forex.

3. RAPID PAYBACK A ₹29,700 crore subsidy investment (₹9,000 per unit for 3.3 crore households, 50% subsidy) recoups itself in under 10 months.

4. GEOPOLITICAL IMMUNITY Solar energy is produced locally by the sun, not by tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. It is the only cooking fuel truly immune to West Asia geopolitics.

5. NO NEW INFRASTRUCTURE Solar cookers are self-contained. Induction cooking requires grid upgrades taking years and thousands of crores.

WHAT THE DATA SHOWS, BUT POLICY IGNORES

From my 2020 research:

• 1.67 million deaths in India were caused by air pollution that year • 116,000 infant deaths were caused by household air pollution • The Ujjwala programme brought household air pollution exposure down from 73% (2010) to 61% (2019)—proving that clean cooking fuel saves lives

But we are still subsidizing LPG—the same fossil fuel that creates the very air pollution we're trying to prevent.

Solar cookers eliminate that contradiction. One kg of LPG saved avoids 3 kg of CO₂ emissions. A solar cooker can generate 51.48 carbon credits per year, worth ₹41,200 in global carbon markets at current prices. This is not speculation; this is verified science.

THE WINDOW IS CLOSING

We have:

• The technology (Surya Nutan, CMERI systems, NIT Calicut designs) • The manufacturing partners (IOC, IOCL, licensed private vendors) • The distribution network (Indane LPG dealerships across the country) • The fiscal case (10-month payback, ₹37,000 crore annual savings) • The health case (prevents premature deaths from indoor air pollution) • The geopolitical case (independence from maritime chokepoints) • The grid case (zero burden on an already-stressed network)

What we do NOT have is urgency. What we do NOT have is a national mission to scale solar cookers from 250,000 units per year to 10 million units per year.

The OPEC headline arrived this month. It is telling us something: if we do not act now, India will be trapped in a 25-year spiral of deepening LPG dependence, rising subsidy costs, and perpetual air pollution.

WHAT MUST HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY

1. Invoke the PLI Scheme for thermal batteries and solar hybrid induction plates—the same industrial momentum being applied to electric induction cooking, but redirected to a technology that doesn't break the grid.

2. Announce Free Distribution to Ujjwala Beneficiaries—9.6 crore households, distributed over 2 years, using the ₹37,256 crore LPG subsidy budget that already exists.

3. Scale Manufacturing to 10 Million Units Per Year—Fast-track approval for private vendors. Remove tariff barriers. Offer production-linked incentives.

4. Link Carbon Credits to Direct Payments—Each household using a solar cooker becomes eligible for annual carbon credit sales, generating ₹30,000–₹40,000 additional income per year.

5. Make Solar Cooker + Battery Systems the Core of the "Har Ghar Surya" Mission—Not as an afterthought, but as the primary vehicle for clean cooking national ambition.

A PERSONAL NOTE

I am 92 years old. I have written nine years of letters on this subject. I have watched the technology mature, the economics improve, and the case for urgency strengthen.

But I will not see the day when every poor rural woman stops burning biomass and LPG and switches to solar.

That is the work of the next government, the next Minister, the next Cabinet.

The only question is: will they act with the urgency this moment demands?

Or will they wait another nine years, watch the OPEC projection come true, and then wonder why they didn't act when the solution was already sitting on laboratory shelves and Minister Puri's desk?

RELATED EARLIER BLOGS

"Not in one day : What about 3 years ?" (October 2020)
The foundational case: ₹37,256 crore LPG subsidy vs. ₹10,000 solar cooker cost, recovered in 3 years.

"My Solar Cooker dream about to materialise ?" (July 2022)
IOC's Surya Nutan announcement, technology readiness, and deployment path.

"Project Solar Cooker: The Answer to the 13–27 GW Induction Power Crisis" (April 2026)
The case for solar cookers as the solution to grid stress, forex bleeding, and geopolitical vulnerability.

With regards,

Hemen Parekh
92-year-old advocate for clean cooking and energy independence
www.HemenParekh.ai | www.3pConsultants.co.in

Mumbai | June 2026


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