Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB), Dharwad, based regional rural bank, sponsored by Syndicate Bank, has bagged first and second prize for promotion and financing of solar home lighting systems during 2009 -10.

KVGB's Mr M.V. Neelanjanmath, Branch Manager - Jainapur (Bijapur) and Mr A.B. Torvi, Branch Manager, Telasang (Belgaum), have won the first and second prize respectively.

USAID, Winrock International India and MNRE have jointly instituted awards by creating a national level fund to encourage bank managers of different banks who promotes solar energy by providing maximum financial assistance for installing solar lighting systems.

The activities of these different agencies are co-ordinated by Bharatiya Vikas Trust, Manipal.

According to Mr K.P. Muralidharan, Chairman, Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank, awareness drive, by the Ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has resulted in enhanced credit flow to solar sector.

Training

“Under MNRE Programme more than 6,500 bank managers have been trained on technical and financial mechanism to lend for solar products,” he added.

The bank (KVGB) during the current financial year (2010-11) has so far installed 4,352 solar lighting units to the tune of Rs 13 crore.

The bank since 1994 has installed 24,500 solar lighting units to the tune of Rs 42.25 crore.

For providing solar lights to un-electrified rural homes in the country, six nationalised banks and few regional rural banks (RRBs) have installed 80,000 solar lighting systems to the tune of Rs 107 crore at the end of December 31, 2010.

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