BANGALORE: “Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO) India is a social Enterprise whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of undeserved households and livelihoods through sustainable energy solutions and services,” this mission statement was made by Harish Hande one of the Magsaysay award winner, announced the committee on Wednesday.Harish Hande and Neelima Mishra are among the five individuals and one organisation cited for the Magsaysay Award.Speaking to Express from the United States of America, Bangalore born Hande said: “I am very happy and I want to share this honour with young entrepreneurs, who want to consider poor as their partners instead of considering them as a market.” He added that the real growth of the country is not 8 per cent but when 500 million poor people will grow along with the others. “We want to provide guidance for young entrepreneurs not to undergo the difficulties that we have faced,” he said.The company that he set up in 1995 was mainly aimed at dispelling three myths, according to their website: “Poor people cannot afford sustainable technologies, poor people cannot maintain sustainable technologies, social ventures cannot be run as commercial entities.” The company currently employs about 170 employees in the state and also in Gujarat. The company claims to have sold, serviced and financed over 1,15,000 solar systems to their customers.Prashanth Biswal, Senior Manager (Social Projects) said: “The company aims to reach 2 lakh homes from present 1.25 lakh homes. As of now we are focusing those income is Rs 2000-5000 per month. In future, our focus will be to reach the poorest of the poor.”
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