20th December 2006, Chennai India, my first professional presentation before an experienced and intellectual international crowd. As per the programme, Dr.Harish Hande, our Managing director was supposed to address the international conference on Innovation & new product development about the experience of SELCO. As Dr. Hande was busy in some other schedule, Mr. Thomas, General Manager (Operations) was all set to depart for Chennai but due to some unavoidable reason, he was unable to attend. Then I received a call from Mr. Thomas, asking me to address the conference. It was less a surprise more a fear for me. Though I delivered lot of public speeches, presentations and participated in state level debate competitions during my study but It was completely a different situation. I was afraid, whether I `d be able to make justice with this responsibility or not.
Finally with the help of Mr. Thomas, I got ready to depart for Chennai. After arriving at Chennai, I got Mr. Suresh Subramanian Chief Operating Officer of International Development Enterprise India, as my room mate. I got some strength and confidence, talking to him. By the time, my presentation was 12.15 PM but it got delayed by one hour. I attended some other speeches by different speakers. A couple of them I remember, Prof. Suzuki from Japan, he gave a definition on quality, which was quite impressive. As per him, “quality can not be measured by the strength, durability or Materials used in the product. It completely depends upon the customer satisfaction. If the customer is satisfied with the performance, then the product is of best quality, no matter if it doesn’t last long”.
Dr.RAvi Chitturi of Lehigh University, US described about Emotion in Design. Dr.A.S.Rao, Scientist, ‘G’, DST, Govt of India explained about various opportunities on product innovations. Mr.Vineet Rai, CEO- Avishkar Micro venture capitals, presented an excellent concept of “Business at Base of the Pyramid”.When my number came, It was 1.30 PM and looking at a hungry crowd, I was more nervous than before. But after my introduction by Dr. K. Chandrasekharan, vice-president , PDMA India, I started my presentation “Product Innovation- sharing of experience”. My first line was “I know I am too young to address such an experienced and intellectual crowd but hope, I can make justice with my job”. Then I put lime light on SELCO`s experience in product, service and Financial innovations. The definition given by me “Innovation is much beyond technology. Its a combination of product, finance, supply and service, which adds value to the end user's quality of life” was highly praised by the conferences.
It was a great experience all together when people came to me, asking more about us and the work we do. Some were very much interested in having a future partnership with us. This exposure really boosted my confidence and my strength too. Thanks to Harish sir and Thomas sir for providing me such a great opportunity so early.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Technology for Poor
The problems of poor are like never ending horizons of an ocean. Beginning from basic necessities of life up to social security, everything is unaffordable for them. Around the island of enterprises in the developing world, there is ocean of poverty. Lots of organisations as well as individuals are fishing out of this ocean in the name of charity and development. But still the there are more addition in poverty than deaddition. Since last 5-6 years the globe is experiencing a golden era of technological development in both IT and non-IT sector. Developing countries like India are also not far behind in the race, rather in some sector, they are far ahead of developed countries.
But how many percentage of the global population are well accessed to these technologies??
The answer is very very negligible portion because, the hi-fy technology is not able to address their day to day problems and even some are able to address some of their problems, its never the less a dream to afford these technology for the poor people.
Still there are lots of grassroot level innovations in technology, which are coming out from the problems itself and are well equipped to address the basic day-to-day problems of the poor household. Unfortunately thousands of these technologies are coming and dying due to lack of required finance to promote these. Sometimes it’s the approach, which prevents the technology to make a sustainable reach to the end users. There is a need of support from institutions, Govt. and public to make these innovations successful and sustainable, so that our society can be a better place to live. The lack of grassroot experience and the institutional willingness are some of the major obstacles to make the technology accessible to poor.
We (SELCO Solar Lights Pvt. Ltd.) are trying to promote the innovations in technologies, which are meant for addressing basic household problems which includes, lighting, cooking, drinking water, sanitation and many more. Our main objective is to make this globe a better place to live in, using alternative source of energy. The difference is, we don’t believe in charity, we believe in provide fee for quality service, which can lead to better income generation activities for the end user. This approach of us has been successful in making the service chain and technology promotion sustainable for ever, not putting extra financial burden on the end user.
As a part of this effort, we are promoting a new cooking technology, innovated by some students of “Colorado state University”, US. The device is called starlight stove which generates electricity when cooking food on it. It’s a normal cookstove, equipped with a thermoelectric generator, charge converter, battery. When we cook food on the stove, using the regular bio-mass fuel, the heat passes throught the thermoelectric generator and the battery gets charged, which we can use for further lighting or using a small electronic equipment. The calculations are as such. , If you burn the stove for four hours, it can light a 5 W CCFL for 3 hours.
Now four of these stoves are under demonstration at four poor households of Gujarat, who are also clients of SEWA Bank. As a part of technological innovation and creating a sustainable service chain of it, SEWA bank is partnering us under the name of “Project Urja”. Objective of SEWA is to provide better technological solutions to their client. Role of SELCO is to provide these solutions in a better financial package which can lead to a better business model as well as enhance income generation of the end user. SEWA bank is their to finance to end users for the product and ensure a productive use of the technology using their huge and strong network.
The Starlight Stove seems to be very energy efficient and multi beneficial, which can be effectively used at the road side fast-food vending shops for a better solution for cooking and lighting. The demonstration is going on, so we expect better results out of it, so that it can be replicated elsewhere in the country.
But how many percentage of the global population are well accessed to these technologies??
The answer is very very negligible portion because, the hi-fy technology is not able to address their day to day problems and even some are able to address some of their problems, its never the less a dream to afford these technology for the poor people.
Still there are lots of grassroot level innovations in technology, which are coming out from the problems itself and are well equipped to address the basic day-to-day problems of the poor household. Unfortunately thousands of these technologies are coming and dying due to lack of required finance to promote these. Sometimes it’s the approach, which prevents the technology to make a sustainable reach to the end users. There is a need of support from institutions, Govt. and public to make these innovations successful and sustainable, so that our society can be a better place to live. The lack of grassroot experience and the institutional willingness are some of the major obstacles to make the technology accessible to poor.
We (SELCO Solar Lights Pvt. Ltd.) are trying to promote the innovations in technologies, which are meant for addressing basic household problems which includes, lighting, cooking, drinking water, sanitation and many more. Our main objective is to make this globe a better place to live in, using alternative source of energy. The difference is, we don’t believe in charity, we believe in provide fee for quality service, which can lead to better income generation activities for the end user. This approach of us has been successful in making the service chain and technology promotion sustainable for ever, not putting extra financial burden on the end user.
As a part of this effort, we are promoting a new cooking technology, innovated by some students of “Colorado state University”, US. The device is called starlight stove which generates electricity when cooking food on it. It’s a normal cookstove, equipped with a thermoelectric generator, charge converter, battery. When we cook food on the stove, using the regular bio-mass fuel, the heat passes throught the thermoelectric generator and the battery gets charged, which we can use for further lighting or using a small electronic equipment. The calculations are as such. , If you burn the stove for four hours, it can light a 5 W CCFL for 3 hours.
Now four of these stoves are under demonstration at four poor households of Gujarat, who are also clients of SEWA Bank. As a part of technological innovation and creating a sustainable service chain of it, SEWA bank is partnering us under the name of “Project Urja”. Objective of SEWA is to provide better technological solutions to their client. Role of SELCO is to provide these solutions in a better financial package which can lead to a better business model as well as enhance income generation of the end user. SEWA bank is their to finance to end users for the product and ensure a productive use of the technology using their huge and strong network.
The Starlight Stove seems to be very energy efficient and multi beneficial, which can be effectively used at the road side fast-food vending shops for a better solution for cooking and lighting. The demonstration is going on, so we expect better results out of it, so that it can be replicated elsewhere in the country.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Enterprise Solutions to Poverty
Enterprise Solutions to Poverty
For too long, approaches to economic development and eradicating poverty have centered around official development assistance. Live8 concerts around the world provided a highly visible and robust focus on global poverty, designed to increase foreign assistance commitments from G-8 countries to the poorest countries – an important, but by no means the best hope, for eradicating poverty. Rather, it is the sea change that is taking place in attitudes and in the proliferation of non-governmental efforts to address poverty that offer the best hope.
The urgency, one might say the fear of global poverty and its impact has prompted many to think outside the box and to diversify the approaches to poverty and its related ills. Encouraging, bold and innovative efforts are underway. Grameen Foundation led the way with lending to the very poor who lacked collateral and microfinance mechanisms proliferated. Organisations like S3IDF (Small scale social Infrastructure Development Fund) are expanding access to the rural and poor for a more effective and efficient social infrastructure and micro enterprise development. And now funds for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are growing as increasing numbers of multinationals are getting serious about corporate social responsibility.
Various organisations are taking a merchant bank approach “to catalyze and scale-up market and enterprise solutions to poverty”. People have started appllying business solutions to eradicating poverty, directing financial resources and transferring “business DNA” (imparting technical and business know-how) to SMEs.
There is a great deal of microfinance, a good bit of project finance and venture capital for the big projects but insufficient financing for the SMEs which face the same problems that microfinance addresses, i.e., no collateral, no business track record and therefore deemed a high risk by lenders and investors. Yet SMEs are often the engine of employment growth for many economies. Capital is needed to grow a business and to take it to scale. Grants never seem to end the dependence on that funding nor enable projects to reach a self-sustaining level.
The fight against global poverty is continuing and it needs an entrepreneurial approach and enthusiastic social entrepreneurs, who can really take over the whole responsibility and win the war. There are examples, which proves the ability of SMEs in eradicating poverty and accelerating development. We an feel the change in social environment due to various reasons, which is forcing us not only eradiating poverty but also growing fast in order to survive in this era of competitions. Even if a significant number of individuals and organisations are coming forward to accept this challenge, we need a combination of multiple resources from multiple sources. More efficient steps need to be taken from the Private side as also from the policy makers.
There is no doubt, that this approach will make important contributions. It may be even broader and more significant yet by providing a model of assistance that can be replicated by hundreds, even thousands of foundations and corporations around the world. That would offer the best hope to “make poverty history.”
"Enterprise leads to employment which further leads to income generation and results in poverty reduction and improve in quality of life"
For too long, approaches to economic development and eradicating poverty have centered around official development assistance. Live8 concerts around the world provided a highly visible and robust focus on global poverty, designed to increase foreign assistance commitments from G-8 countries to the poorest countries – an important, but by no means the best hope, for eradicating poverty. Rather, it is the sea change that is taking place in attitudes and in the proliferation of non-governmental efforts to address poverty that offer the best hope.
The urgency, one might say the fear of global poverty and its impact has prompted many to think outside the box and to diversify the approaches to poverty and its related ills. Encouraging, bold and innovative efforts are underway. Grameen Foundation led the way with lending to the very poor who lacked collateral and microfinance mechanisms proliferated. Organisations like S3IDF (Small scale social Infrastructure Development Fund) are expanding access to the rural and poor for a more effective and efficient social infrastructure and micro enterprise development. And now funds for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are growing as increasing numbers of multinationals are getting serious about corporate social responsibility.
Various organisations are taking a merchant bank approach “to catalyze and scale-up market and enterprise solutions to poverty”. People have started appllying business solutions to eradicating poverty, directing financial resources and transferring “business DNA” (imparting technical and business know-how) to SMEs.
There is a great deal of microfinance, a good bit of project finance and venture capital for the big projects but insufficient financing for the SMEs which face the same problems that microfinance addresses, i.e., no collateral, no business track record and therefore deemed a high risk by lenders and investors. Yet SMEs are often the engine of employment growth for many economies. Capital is needed to grow a business and to take it to scale. Grants never seem to end the dependence on that funding nor enable projects to reach a self-sustaining level.
The fight against global poverty is continuing and it needs an entrepreneurial approach and enthusiastic social entrepreneurs, who can really take over the whole responsibility and win the war. There are examples, which proves the ability of SMEs in eradicating poverty and accelerating development. We an feel the change in social environment due to various reasons, which is forcing us not only eradiating poverty but also growing fast in order to survive in this era of competitions. Even if a significant number of individuals and organisations are coming forward to accept this challenge, we need a combination of multiple resources from multiple sources. More efficient steps need to be taken from the Private side as also from the policy makers.
There is no doubt, that this approach will make important contributions. It may be even broader and more significant yet by providing a model of assistance that can be replicated by hundreds, even thousands of foundations and corporations around the world. That would offer the best hope to “make poverty history.”
"Enterprise leads to employment which further leads to income generation and results in poverty reduction and improve in quality of life"
Monday, November 20, 2006
Munna Bhai ka Jadoo
Dearest Munna Bhai,
Yeh kya kiya? Apun ke bhejey mein chemical locha ho gaya hai. Poorey India ko mamu bana diya tumne. This is too much. Now, all those yeda youngsters who used to think Mahatma Gandhi was Sonia Gandhi's father-in-law, are in total confusion.
And as for Mumbai's underworld, those aspiring dons are in deep depression ever since you replaced dadagiri with Gandhigiri. Boley toh, these new fundas are leading to maha problems.
The taporis are wondering whether to start tuning into local radio stations in the hope of finding Vidya Balan. But if they do that, who will terrorise the helpless and throw old people out of homes? Bhai, this is not fair. Think of their haalat.
They don't have a Circuit in their lives to keep repeating, "Tension mat le." If all of them start bonding with Gandhiji, they'll be out of work. And don't believe a word of what Vilasrao Deshmukh keeps repeating about things looking up.
What, looking up? Usko kuch samjha dey, yaar. The only 'constant' in and around Mumbai is terror in some form or the other. In fact, your film's title Lage Raho... should be transferred to our politicians.
My recommendation to that brilliant gentleman responsible for scripting your character, is to make you a neta in his next film. Forget about going to America... India needs you far more. And your unique take on politics will be exactly what the doctor ordered.
What has made a faltu like you, Munna Bhai, the biggest, most inspiring hero of our times? Bigger by far than Krrrrriish, the Flying Wonder Boy and certainly far bigger than a limping football coach in an adulterous relationship? I
t has to be more than just a goofy expression and clunky body language. Munna Bhai, tell us your secret. You have emerged as the most loveable character in recent movie memory. Even Lucky Singh, that crooked sardar builder, has managed to worm his way into our hearts.
Yeh kya kiya? Apun ke bhejey mein chemical locha ho gaya hai. Poorey India ko mamu bana diya tumne. This is too much. Now, all those yeda youngsters who used to think Mahatma Gandhi was Sonia Gandhi's father-in-law, are in total confusion.
And as for Mumbai's underworld, those aspiring dons are in deep depression ever since you replaced dadagiri with Gandhigiri. Boley toh, these new fundas are leading to maha problems.
The taporis are wondering whether to start tuning into local radio stations in the hope of finding Vidya Balan. But if they do that, who will terrorise the helpless and throw old people out of homes? Bhai, this is not fair. Think of their haalat.
They don't have a Circuit in their lives to keep repeating, "Tension mat le." If all of them start bonding with Gandhiji, they'll be out of work. And don't believe a word of what Vilasrao Deshmukh keeps repeating about things looking up.
What, looking up? Usko kuch samjha dey, yaar. The only 'constant' in and around Mumbai is terror in some form or the other. In fact, your film's title Lage Raho... should be transferred to our politicians.
My recommendation to that brilliant gentleman responsible for scripting your character, is to make you a neta in his next film. Forget about going to America... India needs you far more. And your unique take on politics will be exactly what the doctor ordered.
What has made a faltu like you, Munna Bhai, the biggest, most inspiring hero of our times? Bigger by far than Krrrrriish, the Flying Wonder Boy and certainly far bigger than a limping football coach in an adulterous relationship? I
t has to be more than just a goofy expression and clunky body language. Munna Bhai, tell us your secret. You have emerged as the most loveable character in recent movie memory. Even Lucky Singh, that crooked sardar builder, has managed to worm his way into our hearts.
SELLING THE SOLUTION
SELLING THE SOLUTION
Prasanta Biswal
Innovations, SELCO
Solar energy, the ultimate blessing of Sun has proved itself as a real boon for a significant number of poor across the globe. It’s no more an experiment; it has been working as one of the major livelihood option for those people, who have used it in proper way.
SELCO solar lights Pvt. Ltd. One of the major players in solar energy sector and the first solar energy company in India is being helping the poor to have access to non-conventional energy in a sustainable way. Although SELCO is a for profit company, profit is not its ultimate goal. Profit is only means to reach the end of customer satisfaction and spreading the range of non-conventional energy services to them, who really need it.
In some part of the globe, solar energy is still under experimentation. Most of the people in developing countries believe that, solar is not a financially viable solution to light up their homes, though almost half of the population in developing world don’t have access to regular grid electricity.
Here comes SELCO, the company has clearly understood the need of the community and has ranked them as per the priority. For example one person who don’t have access to basic services like: healthcare, employment, food security, he will never prioritize the need for light at home. His first priority will be employment and food security. SELCO has clearly understood this concept fro the root and is acting as per the need of the people. So the company is concentrating first on the prioritized need of the community, such as income generation in order to bring them up to a level that, they will no more be vulnerable to basic services. Instead of using solar energy only to light up the homes, it’s brightening up the financial strength of the household as well as improving the quality of life. The vision of the company is making it accountable towards building a darkles and poverty less sustainable society.
The best example to prove SELCO`s role as the catalyst in energy sector, is the PCOs running on solar in different parts of Karnataka, India. There are more than 4 dozens of PCOs in rural as well as in urban areas of Karnataka state, where solar energy is being used to power the billing machines as well as to power the glowing CFLs in the shop.
One PCO owner in Kundapura taluk of Udupi district says “It was a matter of prestige for me, as the politicians of my village were against me and they didn’t allowed me to get power from grid to start a PCO of my own. Then I decided to go for solar, thanks SELCO, they installed an eight light system in my home cum PCO during early 1998. It then cost me Rs. 32000/, which I was not able to pay at once but the Syndicate Bank provided me a loan of 85% of the total system cost under a low interest scheme. I was not aware of the process to get loan from the bank, but SELCO people really helped me like a path finder and for which I was able to keep my head high in my village and have saved more than Rs.20000/- which I would have been paid as electricity bill if I would have taken grid connection”.
Another person, who owns a PCO powered by solar energy at kodikal, Mangalore says “the telephone authorities denied me to sanction a PCO connection, because I was running a shop which was a temporary one and was not having grid powered. I was quite frustrated but when I came to know about SELCO solar energy services, I told the telephone authority to sanction my phone and I’ll take solar power. The authorities were laughing on me but when I succeeded, those authorities are advising other people to run their PCOs on solar.”
SELCO has helped these people a lot to get financed under various low interest schemes like UNEP (5% Interest per annum) for their solar systems. Each of the PCOs powered by solar are being financed by various local and national Banks like Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank, Syndicate Bank, CANARA Bank etc. The pay back period for these loans is 5 year. Maximum of these PCOs are paying around Rs.200/p.m as the premium of the loan. Some of them have already paid pack the whole amount within 2 years also. It indicates the increase in income level and getting them out of poverty. These solar powered PCOs have really proved themselves as the security net for these vulnerable people of the society.
SELCO as a catalyst for energy service to the poor had left no doubt behind in its 12 years of long journey. It has helped its customers to the extent of preparing bankable projects and convincing the banker to finance them. The beauty of the financial system is, it is designed as per the need and capacity of the entrepreneur as well as the nature of the business. The service and maintenance of the systems are being taken care by smart SELCO technicians, who always try to help the customers as a professional friend. This step of SELCO has not only provided clean and green energy to the globe but also given livelihood to a significant number of families and established micro social entrepreneurs.
The alliance of SELCO and various responsible financial institutions is really working as a boon for some enthusiastic and committed poor, who no more are ready to be under poverty line.
Prasanta Biswal
Innovations, SELCO
Solar energy, the ultimate blessing of Sun has proved itself as a real boon for a significant number of poor across the globe. It’s no more an experiment; it has been working as one of the major livelihood option for those people, who have used it in proper way.
SELCO solar lights Pvt. Ltd. One of the major players in solar energy sector and the first solar energy company in India is being helping the poor to have access to non-conventional energy in a sustainable way. Although SELCO is a for profit company, profit is not its ultimate goal. Profit is only means to reach the end of customer satisfaction and spreading the range of non-conventional energy services to them, who really need it.
In some part of the globe, solar energy is still under experimentation. Most of the people in developing countries believe that, solar is not a financially viable solution to light up their homes, though almost half of the population in developing world don’t have access to regular grid electricity.
Here comes SELCO, the company has clearly understood the need of the community and has ranked them as per the priority. For example one person who don’t have access to basic services like: healthcare, employment, food security, he will never prioritize the need for light at home. His first priority will be employment and food security. SELCO has clearly understood this concept fro the root and is acting as per the need of the people. So the company is concentrating first on the prioritized need of the community, such as income generation in order to bring them up to a level that, they will no more be vulnerable to basic services. Instead of using solar energy only to light up the homes, it’s brightening up the financial strength of the household as well as improving the quality of life. The vision of the company is making it accountable towards building a darkles and poverty less sustainable society.
The best example to prove SELCO`s role as the catalyst in energy sector, is the PCOs running on solar in different parts of Karnataka, India. There are more than 4 dozens of PCOs in rural as well as in urban areas of Karnataka state, where solar energy is being used to power the billing machines as well as to power the glowing CFLs in the shop.
One PCO owner in Kundapura taluk of Udupi district says “It was a matter of prestige for me, as the politicians of my village were against me and they didn’t allowed me to get power from grid to start a PCO of my own. Then I decided to go for solar, thanks SELCO, they installed an eight light system in my home cum PCO during early 1998. It then cost me Rs. 32000/, which I was not able to pay at once but the Syndicate Bank provided me a loan of 85% of the total system cost under a low interest scheme. I was not aware of the process to get loan from the bank, but SELCO people really helped me like a path finder and for which I was able to keep my head high in my village and have saved more than Rs.20000/- which I would have been paid as electricity bill if I would have taken grid connection”.
Another person, who owns a PCO powered by solar energy at kodikal, Mangalore says “the telephone authorities denied me to sanction a PCO connection, because I was running a shop which was a temporary one and was not having grid powered. I was quite frustrated but when I came to know about SELCO solar energy services, I told the telephone authority to sanction my phone and I’ll take solar power. The authorities were laughing on me but when I succeeded, those authorities are advising other people to run their PCOs on solar.”
SELCO has helped these people a lot to get financed under various low interest schemes like UNEP (5% Interest per annum) for their solar systems. Each of the PCOs powered by solar are being financed by various local and national Banks like Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank, Syndicate Bank, CANARA Bank etc. The pay back period for these loans is 5 year. Maximum of these PCOs are paying around Rs.200/p.m as the premium of the loan. Some of them have already paid pack the whole amount within 2 years also. It indicates the increase in income level and getting them out of poverty. These solar powered PCOs have really proved themselves as the security net for these vulnerable people of the society.
SELCO as a catalyst for energy service to the poor had left no doubt behind in its 12 years of long journey. It has helped its customers to the extent of preparing bankable projects and convincing the banker to finance them. The beauty of the financial system is, it is designed as per the need and capacity of the entrepreneur as well as the nature of the business. The service and maintenance of the systems are being taken care by smart SELCO technicians, who always try to help the customers as a professional friend. This step of SELCO has not only provided clean and green energy to the globe but also given livelihood to a significant number of families and established micro social entrepreneurs.
The alliance of SELCO and various responsible financial institutions is really working as a boon for some enthusiastic and committed poor, who no more are ready to be under poverty line.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Itnroduction
Hi friends,
I`m Prasant Biswal introducing my blog spot to al of you here. The objective of creating this blog is to bring the news of innovations in Development sector, environment, Technology, sports, social Issues, Judiciary,National and international politics etc.
I hope this blog will act as a forum of discussion on the current issues and affairs, where we can share our views, comments and ideas. Hope INTELECT will also help in our intelectual growth.
Thanks
Prasant
the one for all
I`m Prasant Biswal introducing my blog spot to al of you here. The objective of creating this blog is to bring the news of innovations in Development sector, environment, Technology, sports, social Issues, Judiciary,National and international politics etc.
I hope this blog will act as a forum of discussion on the current issues and affairs, where we can share our views, comments and ideas. Hope INTELECT will also help in our intelectual growth.
Thanks
Prasant
the one for all
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