[forumadmin]

Dear Forum Manager,

In India the Govt is proactive for the propogation of RETS for over four decades. There is a special Ministry of new and renewable Energy at the Federal level and passing a number of laws including - making it mandatory to install Solar water heaters in all public and Govt buildings and in fact many state Govts have announced subsidy or tax exemption etc.

But still it is difficult for individuals and small organisations to get hold of the correct supplier, access the low interest loans etc. Here NGOs could play a positive role by helping these people to acquire these devices - be it a solar water heater, cooker, or improved gasifier stove - which is being developed by many MNCs. If all the NGOs take it up seriously and give awareness as a mission, a lot could be achieved.

Sent in by Lalita Balakrishnan

[Nar Bahadur]

NGOs' can really help in putting policy into practice if they have the thirst to work for the society at large. However, like todays' practice, most NGOs' work to earn profit though NGOs' are supposed to be non-profit organisation. Unless we inculcate a habit of working for the society and the country, how much we trust, we always fail.

[cmutubukimakuyana]

NGOs do play a crucial role but to my experience it is limited to the instigating role. They have the resources to showcase best practice models, demostrate through pilots and perhaps even upscale. But their outreach is always limited because ultimately it all boils down to partnerships that work. Communities that demand energy services, governments that listen to community needs and are innovative in sourcing resources to make it happen, and a private sector that is enticed into appreciating the value of investing in RE investments.

As much as communities are poor, they have something to offer and they need to sit down and identify what resources they have that may attract investors. It all starts with the communities and they need to be aware that they need to plan for energy in their ward/village/district development plans right at the onset. NGOs can play a role in capacity building of communities to intergrate energy in development plans. In Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi, Practical Action has adopted the CBP approach (Community Based Planning) to start the ball rolling. Plans from this process are then 'energised' and intergrated into district plans. This energising process involves a) identifying energy issues and needs in the community plans, then b) identifying energy resources in the local area, then c) prioritising energy provision projects for their communities.

Each community does these plans with local district personnel, local leadership and practically all stakeholders in the area. Once these energised plans are complete, they are taken to district level, provincial level and national level. When budgets are allocated for provinces, districts and sectors, they already include these RE related projects.

So from my experience, NGOs should play a catalytic role for policy to get into practice, but what is key, is for all the relevant partners to play their role.
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Chandi

[hossain]

Nepals Biogas programmes is considered as one of the best in the world. However, even the NGOs have difficulties in reaching the poorest of the poor groups. Thier socioal context also may be different to the average poor groups. If the NGOs can be a driving force, why can't the NGOs drive the poorests of the poor out of acure poverty. Do you all have any ideas to help these people come out of poverty?
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Hossain Chowdhury, Chittagong,Bangladesh

[Subarna Kapali]

In Nepal, NGOs have been the driving force for development of renewable sector. Be it micro-hydro, solar home system, improved water mill, biogas or improved cookstoves - which are now in market promotion phase - were promoted by NGOs including some INGOs in the early stages of R&D and promotion (market creation). NGOs together with some private sector institutions had advocated for a dedicated govt. institution to look after the renewable sector. As a result, there is now an apex body under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, called the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC). National programmes on biogas and improved water mill executed by AEPC are being implemented by NGOs - the Biogas Sector Partnership Nepal and Centre for Rural Technology Nepal respectively. National programmes on micro-hydro and biomass are being implemented through local NGOs.
Such NGOs are the major source of policy improvements, that is, policies on renewable energy such as subsidy policy are heavily based upon experiences of the NGOs and the creative ideas they forward to the government.
By Subarna Kapali, Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)
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Action for Development

[virendra]

Dear Forum members,
Some of the states of India has mandated mixing of a determined percentage of ethanol for the petrol pumping stations. By this renewables energy is encouraged to be promoted.
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Virendra Kapoor
Mumbai

[hossain]

Dear Lalita
We agree that India has taken a lead in setting up of a Union ministry for New and Renewable Sources of energy. As you say, the the NGOs can play a big role in promoting among the people . Grameen Shakthi is a good example from Bangladesh. May be India too can try this model
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Hossain Chowdhury, Chittagong,Bangladesh