Mr. Prathamesh Antarkar will present his APS as per the details below:

Date: 13/09/2024 (Friday)

Time: 1500 – 1630 hrs. 

Venue: CTARA Conference Room No.1

Title: Electricity for irrigation in India: A social construction of technology (SCOT) analysis

Supervisor: Prof. Pankaj Sekhsaria

RPC Members: Prof. Anand B. Rao, Prof. Himanshu Burte, Prof. Mahendra Shahare

Abstract:

In this study, I argue that the electricity supply for agriculture is a combination of its technical aspects and the associated social context. In this study, I aim to understand the relationship between electricity for agriculture and various social groups associated with it. With this study, I explore the social context associated with the technical objects of electricity for agriculture. I describe some of the notable events in the history of electricity in India, focusing on agriculture and present its current state. I describe some of the characteristics of electricity supply for agriculture in India to show the state of agricultural electricity supply. I argue that these characteristics of agricultural electricity supply are open to contestation, and the perspectives of different social groups about agricultural electricity supply may be due to the differences in priorities and preferences regarding these characteristics.  I propose to use Social Construction Of Technology (SCOT) based on the interpretative flexibility of relevant social groups to analyze the electricity distribution system. Relevant social groups are groups of people that directly interact with technology and influence and get influenced by it. The technical objects are open to interpretative flexibility that comes with the differences in social contexts and preferences. As per interpretative flexibility, different social groups may draw different meanings about a technical object related to electricity for agriculture.  I aim to understand how different relevant social groups influence the use of technologies related to electricity for irrigation. I analyze three technical objects through literature – a grid-connected electric pump, a capacitor, and an off-grid solar pump. I aim to understand what these objects mean to different relevant groups, considering their priorities and preferences.  In this analysis, I aim to answer the following research question. How do different social groups affect the use of technologies related to electricity for agriculture?