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The Karnataka-based Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) has won Ashden Gold Award.
The Ashden awards were founded in 2001 to encourage the 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 SKDRDP 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.
Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of UNIDO and Chair of UN-Energy, presented the award. In his keynote speech, he urged governments around the world to increase their support for clean energy pioneers.
Other winners of the award are: a community-owned micro-hydro programme in Indonesia — IBEKA; a micro-hydro programme in remote Afghanistan — GIZ/INTEGRATION; an energy-saving water filter in Cambodia — iDE/Hydrologic; and an affordable solar power provider in East Africa — Barefoot Power.
However, SKDRDP was the overall Gold Award winner, it said.
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