Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, May 31: "Electricity has become a political issue these days. It was one of the reasons Arvind Kejriwal won the last Delhi elections," quipped senior journalist and vice-chairman of India Today Group Shekhar Gupta.
He was speaking during the 'Surya Mitra' national award presentation ceremony here on Saturday May 30. The awards, instituted by Bengaluru-based Selco Solar Light, were conferred on Fr Maria Julian, director of Chitra Don Bosco, Chitradurga, and Arjun Menda, founder and chairman, RMZ Corporation and trustee, Menda Foundation, Bengaluru.
Shekhar Gupta further said, "The issue of electricity spelt doom for some political parties in the elections, while for others it brought victory, and the seat of power for some. We are in an era where bijli-pani-sadak (power-water-roads) decide the outcome of elections.
"Once upon a time, the popular election slogan was 'roti-kapda-makan' (food-clothes-shelter), but this slogan did not originate in India - it came from Pakistan's former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Thereafter, mandir-masjid (temple-mosque) and mandals also became election issues," he added.
"In the last five-six years, elections are being fought on issues like health, employment and quality of life which have become important to the youth. Among these, electricity is the major issue pertaining to quality of life. Electricity lights up not only our homes but our lives too. Today, excess electricity is being produced in our country, still we see shortage of power supply everywhere. This is because of the incompetence of officials and the administration," he opined.
"Electricity is the basic right of people. It is the responsibility of the government to provide power supply to all people and improve their quality of life. It is commendable that institutes like Selco are doing this job today. Providing solar power to 3.5 lac families in the country is no mean achievement. We must applaud Dr Harish Hande for making this possible," Gupta said.
Selco managing director and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Dr Harish Hande presided over the programme. He said that more than 'Make in India', what the country needs is 'Thought in India'. He gave a call to make India a knowledge centre and said that it was his institute's mission to provide uninterrupted power supply to all sections of society.
"The union government has announced that it would give support and promote solar energy. The poor in the country have still no access to electricity. The solar lights that I installed in my house 20 years ago are still working, and I have been able to save thousands on power," Dr Hande added.
Earlier, Selco director K M Udupa inaugurated the programme, while CEO Mohan Hegde brief about the awards.
Surabhi Rajgopal compered while Huda Zafar proposed the vote of thanks. Selco president K Revati and others were present.