Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Sep 22: "The media can highlight various issues plaguing the rural economy and create among users an awareness about the benefits of sustainable energy and economic activities run thereby. Media plays an important role in creating ecosystems," said founder and managing director of SELCO India, H Harish Hande.
He was speaking at meet-the-press organised by Mangaluru Press Club here on Friday, September 22.
"Media also can play a powerful role in formulating poor-centric policies, encourage further utilisation of sustainable energy, and make the country less dependent on imported fossil fuels, while highlighting sustainable energy as the centre of innovation," he said.
He further said, "Lack of energy access is one of the greatest barriers to poverty reduction in the country. More than half of India's population either has no electricity or suffers from unreliable electricity.
"The other barrier is the lack of reliable income-generating activities for the under-served population of the country," he said.
"There is a strong relationship between sustainable energy and poverty reduction. The decentralized nature of sustainable energy helps in providing customised solutions to the poor. Today, India has a chance to be the leader in poverty reduction through innovations in sustainable energy. For that to happen, we need to build appropriate ecosystems. Innovations in rural livelihood-based technology, appropriate financial products, doorstep delivery models and market linkages need to take place," he said.
Replying to questions on Indian education system he said, "Our education system is confusing knowledge with financial wealth. English and educational degrees are the two major hurdles prevailing in India. These hurdles will never give opportunities to poor and uneducated innovators. Our universities and colleges only teach how to work for others. That should change."
CEO of SELCO India, Mohan Hegde, and deputy General Manager SELCO India, Jagadeesh Pai, were present.
Anil Ronald Fernandes, president of Press Club welcomed and introduced Harish Hande. Athmabhushan rendered the vote of thanks.
About Dr H Harish Hande
Dr Hande, a graduate from the IIT, Kharagpur, and masters and PhD from the University of Massachusetts, US returned to India to start SELCO in 1994 after experiencing benefits of solar energy in the rural areas of the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka.
Having installed the first 1000 home lighting systems on his own and over 4,50,000 households now, through his company SELCO India, he is recognised as a pioneer of rural energy service across the globe.
He and his company have received many national and international awards including the Ashden Awards in 2005 and 2007, the Tech Museum Award in 2005, Khemka Social Entrepreneur of the year 2007 and Financial Times - Arcelor Mittal Boldness in Business award in 2009.
In November 2011, the government of Karnataka honoured Dr Hande with Karnataka Rajyostava Award for his contribution to the sector enterprise SELCO India.