<p>Magsaysay award winner Dr Harish Hande said that Karnataka government should take measures to exempt 5.5 per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT) levied on solar equipment to promote sustainable energy sources in rural areas.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Selco India Limited Chairman said unlike other states like Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh, the Karnataka government has failed to exempt VAT on the solar energy equipment. He added if VAT is exempted, the poor people in rural areas will be benefited the most. "It is sarcastic that the government offers tax exemption to IT/BT facilities utilised by the rich class. The official letter, which was forwarded to the government, was not taken into consideration," he lamented.<br /><br />He said there was tax exemption until 2002. Karnataka is a role model to the country in having solar energy equipment in large number of houses. Around two lakh houses are using solar energy in Karnataka. The rural banks support to promote the solar energy in rural areas is commendable. He said Karnataka being the role model, a group of 40 enthusiast members from Africa are visiting Karnataka to study the endorsement of solar energy in rural areas in December. He said the Latin American and African countries are very much influenced by the Karnataka model for the promotion of solar energy, he added.<br /><br />Stating that the aim of Selco is to provide solar facilities to every nook and corner of the state where the power facilities are unavailable, the Magsaysay award winner said SELCO India is a social enterprise that provides sustainable energy services to the poor in India from past 20 years. The enterprise has already distributed two lakh solar lights in North Karnataka and Bangalore region and added that now the aim is at making Karnataka as a model state in promoting sustainable energy resources.<br /><br />He said that to commemorate the 20 successful years of SELCO India, 100 programmes ‘YES-20’ (Yakshagana, Education, Solar Energy- 20 years of service) is organised from 2013-2015 for promoting the art of Yakshagana, education and solar energy. <br /><br />The programmes will be organised in all the district head quarters starting from this November month to March 2015. Students, bankers, NGOs will be incorporated in the programmes. He said banks should come forward to offer financial assistance to make people to buy solar products.He said Bangalore is turning out to be innovative centre besides being core hub of IT/BT. He opined that whoever or whichever political party takes over the charge of the country, it is not possible for anybody to cover 50 per cent of the total population of the country with power facilities. There are no resources. <br /><br />He also stressed that the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao’s assurance to make the Bangalore city free of kerosene should be extended to all the areas in the state. The subsidy offered on kerosene can be utilized to promote solar energy. The health hazard following the use of kerosene can also be minimised, he added.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Magsaysay award winner Dr Harish Hande said that Karnataka government should take measures to exempt 5.5 per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT) levied on solar equipment to promote sustainable energy sources in rural areas.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Selco India Limited Chairman said unlike other states like Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh, the Karnataka government has failed to exempt VAT on the solar energy equipment. He added if VAT is exempted, the poor people in rural areas will be benefited the most. "It is sarcastic that the government offers tax exemption to IT/BT facilities utilised by the rich class. The official letter, which was forwarded to the government, was not taken into consideration," he lamented.<br /><br />He said there was tax exemption until 2002. Karnataka is a role model to the country in having solar energy equipment in large number of houses. Around two lakh houses are using solar energy in Karnataka. The rural banks support to promote the solar energy in rural areas is commendable. He said Karnataka being the role model, a group of 40 enthusiast members from Africa are visiting Karnataka to study the endorsement of solar energy in rural areas in December. He said the Latin American and African countries are very much influenced by the Karnataka model for the promotion of solar energy, he added.<br /><br />Stating that the aim of Selco is to provide solar facilities to every nook and corner of the state where the power facilities are unavailable, the Magsaysay award winner said SELCO India is a social enterprise that provides sustainable energy services to the poor in India from past 20 years. The enterprise has already distributed two lakh solar lights in North Karnataka and Bangalore region and added that now the aim is at making Karnataka as a model state in promoting sustainable energy resources.<br /><br />He said that to commemorate the 20 successful years of SELCO India, 100 programmes ‘YES-20’ (Yakshagana, Education, Solar Energy- 20 years of service) is organised from 2013-2015 for promoting the art of Yakshagana, education and solar energy. <br /><br />The programmes will be organised in all the district head quarters starting from this November month to March 2015. Students, bankers, NGOs will be incorporated in the programmes. He said banks should come forward to offer financial assistance to make people to buy solar products.He said Bangalore is turning out to be innovative centre besides being core hub of IT/BT. He opined that whoever or whichever political party takes over the charge of the country, it is not possible for anybody to cover 50 per cent of the total population of the country with power facilities. There are no resources. <br /><br />He also stressed that the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao’s assurance to make the Bangalore city free of kerosene should be extended to all the areas in the state. The subsidy offered on kerosene can be utilized to promote solar energy. The health hazard following the use of kerosene can also be minimised, he added.<br /><br /></p>
