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Bhubaneswar: Stating that 57 per cent of households in Odisha lack access to electricity, social enterprise SELCO today announced plans to identify and train entrepreneurs for developing sustainable solar energy.
"The 2011 census data quotes percentage of households in Odisha without access to electricity at 57 per cent. Access to reliable energy can provide them an opportunity of better livelihood and quality of life," Managing Director of SELCO Harish Hande told reporters here.
Stating that access to reliable energy can create employment opportunities for the youth, Hande said SELCO is organising seven introductory workshops in Nuapada, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Mayurbhanj districts for addressing the energy needs of the poor.
"This is a forum to know in detail about the opportunity to serve the under-served in a holistic manner," the Ramon Magsaysay awardee said adding entrepreneurs identified at the workshops would be given opportunities to get training with a goal of leveraging sustainable power for under-privileged households.
Maintaining that over two lakh households and 4000 institutions used solar energy with SELCO technology in Karnataka, Hande said rural households of Odisha need a strong service orientation for solar energy companies to succeed.
Lessons on designing products, marketing strategies and end-consumer financing are taught at SELCO, he said adding this has resulted in addressing energy needs of street vendors, lighting needs for students, especially tribal families and their livelihood linkages.
"All these are socially, financially and environmentally sustainable business models. We wish to empower the local community needs of Odisha through local entrepreneurs," Hande said.
SELCO is a social enterprise established in 1995, provides sustainable energy solutions and services to under-served households and businesses.
