Comments
The Karnataka-based NGO, Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), has won Ashden Gold Award for 2012.
The Ashden awards were founded in 2001 to encourage greater use of local sustainable energy to address climate change and alleviate poverty. Ashden's patron is the Prince of Wales.
A press release by the London-based Ashden said that the Dharmasthala-based SKDRDP was awarded the overall Ashden Gold Award of £40,000 in prize money at a meeting with the Prince of Wales in London on May 30.
Quoting the judges of the Ashden award, the release said that the project is a fantastic example of how ethically managed microfinance can deliver sustainable energy to the poor, demonstrating that providing consumer loans for energy makes sound social, environmental and economic sense.
The project provides affordable loans to families in the area, helping them buy renewable energy systems that improve their quality of life. Key to the success of this programme, which has provided nearly 20,000 energy loans, is self-help groups that help people make informed choices on what energy products they buy, it said.
Presenting the award, Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General of UNIDO and Chair of UN-Energy, urged governments around the world to increase their support for clean energy pioneers. “The Ashden 2012 winners are exposing the myth that poor countries cannot stimulate growth without degrading the environment. They are demonstrating that sustainable energy stimulates green growth and new jobs, lifts people out of poverty, improves health and opens up new educational opportunities,” he said.
Dr L.H. Manjunath, Executive Director of SKDRDP, said that receiving an Ashden Gold Award was a great step in recognising that poor people need financial services to acquire sustainable energy assets. For too long, micro-credit only meant improving livelihoods. This award will redefine the scope of micro-credit, he said.
SKDRDP, which is headquartered at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, has presence in 16 districts in the State. Other winners of this year's award are: IBEKA, a community-owned micro-hydro programme in Indonesia; GIZ/INTEGRATION, a micro-hydro programme in Afghanistan; iDE/Hydrologic, an energy-saving water filter in Cambodia; and Barefoot Power, an affordable solar power provider in East Africa. SKDRDP has been selected for the overall Gold Award winner, it said.
vinayakaj@thehindu.co.in
Comments
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.