Just before the New Year, the London-based Center for Economics and Business Research announced that Brazil had overtaken the United Kingdom as the world’s sixth largest economy. Furthermore, it predicted that by 2020, India and Russia will also have overtaken all the European economic powers.

There’s no question that the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are indelibly changing the G8.

All of these newcomers give aid to developing countries even though some still receive substantial international aid themselves from the U.S. and other multilateral and bilateral donors. This apparent schizophrenia is the symbol of the emerging new world order — a world of multi-polar powers, where half of the G8 still have significant poverty within their borders.

Where will non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fit into this changing world?

From the vantage point of CHF, the discovery process starts with funding. NGOs receive funds from a variety of donors, including the public, governments, multilateral institutions, foundations and corporations. The focus, of late, has increasingly been on corporations as a source for development funds. USAID, for example, is increasingly emphasizing private sector engagement in the programs they fund. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has led a series of initiatives, including Partners for a New Beginning(PNB) — a public-private partnership in coordination with the Aspen Institute, which includes multinationals such as Coca Cola and local companies in the Middle East such as Souktel. At CHF International, we’ve seen this approach succeed on many levels— through our relief works in partnership with local companies in Haiti, and our microfinance work in partnership with Arab banks in the Middle East.

The management consulting services company, Accenture, recently released areport on a new type of convergence — an emerging relationship between NGOs and corporations. The report’s authors argue that it’s no longer enough for a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm to fund programs based on perceived publicity value. Corporations are looking to partner with NGOs who understand their business in a partnership that meets both community and commercial needs. CSR is becoming an integral part of corporate strategy.

These findings and new developments mean that the future for NGOs depends on their ability to work side by side with the private sector. And multinational corporations are beginning to see this model as the way forward.

Once-emerging markets are now growth markets. Haitians, Brazilians, Indians – these populations are now consumers and stakeholders, not just beneficiaries of charity relegated to the back of annual reports. And their countries are becoming new, core markets that large corporations cannot ignore. Corporations have to be more and more focused on instituting higher labor standards. After all, local employees working in what were once sweatshops are now becoming consumers of the products their factories make.

We should celebrate these emerging economies, some of which are beginning to outpace our own. This more equitable world, in many ways, is what we have been working towards. We should also be seeking the opportunity to work with corporations to ensure that their work has a positive impact on local communities and that they are making social as well as financial investments.

But we should also be careful, making sure that, in this new world, NGOs do not suffer mission-creep or become agents of exploitation. Each situation must be judged on its merits, according to the mission and values of the NGO and the work of the corporation. Commercial needs can only be met if they genuinely service the community and lead towards greater equity, and economic empowerment.

Courtesy: (wriiten by By David Weis)

Combine thoughts emerge when we talk about Intellectual Property Rights and Piracy. We often envisage the classical fight between the two directors claiming their authority on a particular subject. We think of factories in South East Asia bootlegging copies of Bollywood blockbusters, gadgets and watches. For an ordinary urban Indian it is just a matter of laugh and for many others a way to be in news. Least know that there’s another form of intellectual property theft that is less about the developing world usurping patent laws of the developed world and more about the developed world trampling on the rights and knowledge of the developing world.

Biopiracy is a situation where indigenous knowledge of nature, originating with indigenous people, is exploited for commercial gain without permission from and with no compensation to the indigenous people themselves. It is often referred as appropriation and monopolization of traditional population’s knowledge and biological resources. Biopiracy in developing counties is not a new phenomenon. This is because the poorer nations are often not in a position to emphasize their legal rights in international arena. In some cases, the people may not even know that they had their national biodiversity is being stolen.

Representing one of the most agriculturally bio-diverse nations in the world, India has been a primary target for biotechnology companies. For others it may appear a technology theft but for India the issue has always been a affair of National Integrity and moreover the exploitation of India’s Biodiversity. A classic case of biopiracy by transnational corporations is that of the neem tree and medicinal properties of Turmeric in India. However these patents were annulled after Government’s intervention, but there are more than 100 Indian plants awaiting grant at the US patent office. India’s has always displayed begat generosity and a willingness to share its wealth with the world. But recent Biopiracy has ended this inherited sanguine magnanimity.

The Intellectual property problem becomes broader when it affects country’s economic, political and biological system. The unwillingness to pay appropriate compensation to the affected is problematic. It’s is estimated that if the laws are implemented properly, US companies owes a debt of $25 billion to the developing world. Jobless and bankrupt America would ever think to compensate make me laugh. Secondly, by not being willing to pay these countries for the technologies that emerge from these diverse regions, they reduce the impetus for these countries to protect their bio-diverse regions - why protect this area for someone else’s benefit?

Stringent laws, vigilant observation, effective strategy and awareness about the Bio-piracy among masses are the only way out. It’s not at all ethical to define your economic interest by keeping the environment at stake. Communities have always striven to experiment, refine and preserve over the millennia, practical uses of nature’s bounty. Better representation of Indigenous peoples whose technologies are often the ones being poached should be considered. It matters how you intimately consider the needs of the community to create a habitable planet. It’s now our responsibility to make Mother Earth smile again after having had its hospitality abused for long.

Written by: Ganesh Gupta

On the eve of our 63rd Republic Day, I convey my warmest greetings to all the people across the country, from every walk of life and in different parts of the world. I compliment all citizens for their contribution to the process of nation-building. Let this day mark the expression of National and emotional Unity. Let us unite to build India as described below:

JAI HIND !!

With many astounding events in 2011, CSR has gained top priority in corporate portfolio. Many of these organizations have realized the value of strategic partnerships to achieve their goals. They partner with wide array of nonprofit beneficiaries whose mission aligns with your CSR goals, vendors who help them to run program smoothly, or even like-minded companies and associations to collaborate with. The key mantra lies in the fact that CSR challenges need not to be tacked alone. Large collaboration with communities is indeed desirable. So this year stop and think about others in the community you can engage to make your efforts more impactful. Here are some CSR resolutions to help you plan for your most sustainable, responsible and impactful year yet:

Transparency: 2011 was a year of scams and financial dodge for Indians. Now citizens demand that companies and governments should practice transparency. Take this to heart in 2012, and re-evaluate your program to ensure there is a commitment to sharing your CSR intentions and results in a transparent manner to those who care.

Public Alignment: There’s no better way to get employees, consumers and other stakeholders excited about your CSR program than to ask them what they want to see in the mix. Question people what motivates them to volunteer or donate to a nonprofit partner and then determine your program objectives. Align your objectives with societal needs. Build loyalty by demonstrating care and considerate values.

Turn Swadeshi: Involve with people at grassroots level (e.g. rural & urban people) and ask them to share their views on the issues. Innovate your sustainability program to meet their local conditions, aim for smaller footprints but more accountable actions. Consider local markets for sustainability rather than supermarkets.

Go Green: Recycling is the first mandate of the church of green. Hence, it becomes obligatory for each person at commit at personal level to save the exhausting resources. Project the idea of using products which can be easily recycled and disposed off in appropriate container making it easier to recycle bottles, cans, and paper.

Earth Hour:  Celebrate Earth Hour by switching off the light on March 31. However, the action has to be well inculcated in one’s life and should turn off the lights when not in use.

Promote Health: Recent study has showed up that 47% of India Young population is malnourished. Therefore, eradicating hunger, malnutrition, better healthier concepts and maintaining diet is the single most effective sustainable action. Endorse the notion of “Health is Wealth” and encourage mass participation.

Be an Ambassador: Mark something diverse in society and serve as a catalyst of change. Educate people on Social responsibility and persuade them to contribute.

Courtesy: (written by Ganesh Gupta)

A Greek playwright coined the term Philanthropy 2,000 years ago which meant Love for mankind. Nevertheless, I rediscovered the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in my first decade of upbringing. Being raised by socially conscious folks, I was always exposed to social advocacy on a personal level.

Spirituality and Corporate Social Responsibility always had a deep-rooted connection in India. Philanthropic Spirit has always been an Integral part in our Nation’s History. We have always defined it from the size from the heart and not from the Size of the wallet. However, many of us have forgotten to do so. India and Indus has always been a land of Philanthropists. Giving time, effort and wealth to another being stems from the feeling of compassion. The first example that comes to mind is that of the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka.

Amongst Indian Muslims there is tdkr zakaat. Every year, a proportion of the wealth held throughout the year has to be given away to the poor and indigent.  From great Philantrophists like  Aga Khan III, Ashoka, Baldeo Das Birla, J.d. Tata to next philanthropic leaders like S. (Kris) Gopalakrishnan, Katherina M. Rosqueta, Arpan Sheth, partner at Bain & Co, India and Indians have always braced the theory of charity and a sense of Individual Social Responsibility. Nevertheless, many women business personalities such as Biocon’s CEO Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Anu Aga of Thermax, Kiran Nadar and Rohini Nilekani are also leading the chartist way amongst others.

Not only have these, even a common Indian involved himself into Denominational charities during the anniversaries of the deaths of ancestors when food, raiment, beds and utensils were given to Brahmins. A few copper coins or cooked rotis is always given to a beggar enroute. Even in the kitchen, the first jksVh (a miniature but smeared with clarified butter) is fed to the fire. Some of them are fed to a cow.

CSR is not only defined by doing something good to society. It is rather held on the principle of creating better human relations. It’s the platform to foster connections with family, community and the world at large. It is a desire to engage others in charitable activity and to imbue a philanthropic spirit in peers as well as in the next generation of givers.

“It is not unreasonable to ask whether culture and personal desire to give away things has more or less impact on society. “How often has one heard the lack of philanthropic or developmental attention to culture defended on the ground that it falls low on any scale of priorities?” It’s rather a personal perception and the spirit of contributing something to the society.

I think, for being a great Business Leader, a sense of Camaraderie and Individual Social Responsibility is expected from a person to be a part of this unique facet of Business. True Success of a company is not only dependent on its balance sheets but also on its socialistic commitment, entrepreneurial responsibility and business ethics. A Company should regard the balance sheets and social commitment as objectives of equal rank.

Responsibility is normally said to be accepted. I think, we should take rather take it on. But regardless whatever it may be, I think it means nothing without having the power to shape events and the ability to envisage the long term perspective. A Company should always have a traditional commitment to the principles of sustainable development and to the role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. They should find the way to re-define its socialistic commitment on the current societal status and demands so that they can initiate the process of “rethink” and embark the change for future.

One should never forget the Philanthropic lines from our epic “Bhagavad Gita”

“On action alone be thy interest,
Never on its fruits.
Let not the fruits of action be thy motive,
Nor be thy attachment to inaction.“

Good Evening . And thank you for joining me

Today it was brought to my attention by fellow bloggers and friends from CSR community  that Corporate Social Responsibilty – Business with a Smile blog is engaged in violating Copyright laws.

Let me clear you that it’s my upmost responsibility to give credit to the respective Author’s of the Article (if taken from other website). However, i was totally unaware of this blogging law. This mistake is totally unintentional and in an effort to correct my lack of Judgement, I express my sincere and humble apologies for the inconvenience caused.

All the post prior to 4th January 2012 would possess a Author’s name at the bottom of the Article and the Post published after 5th Jan, 2012 would possess a direct link to the revelant website. Looking for kind co-operation.

That is simply all I can do.

Thank you very much.

Ganesh Gupta  - 4th January, 2012

2012 has been designated International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. As the tradition goes at this time of the year, people make resolutions for the nascent year; considering the theme reserved for 2012, these plans should include actions to make our lives greener and more sustainable.

he organization says that hunger, poverty and climate change are issues that concern everyone and it recommends several steps that could make our lives greener in 2012. Here are some of them:

Recycle: Recycling is the first commandment of the church of green. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for each pound of aluminium recovered, Americans save the energy resources necessary to generate roughly 7.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough to power a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years! Put a separate container next to your trash can or printer, making it easier to recycle your bottles, cans, and paper.

Turn off the lights: You shouldn’t turn off the light only on March 31, when we’ll be celebrating Earth Hour. Whenever and wherever there’s no need for a light to be on, then it should be off. It’s as simple as that.

Switch to CFLs: Australia has already “banned the bulb” and by 2012 the country estimates it will have managed to avoid four million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Anyone can make the switch, regardless of government policies. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use only 20-30 percent of the energy required by incandescents to create the same amount of light, and LEDs use only 10 percent, helping reduce both electric bills and carbon emissions.

Say no to bottled water: Buying bottled water, especially in developed countries where tap water is as good as it gets, is obscene. Carry a re-usable bottle around with you, if you are always on the go. They only cost a few dollars but they will save a lot of plastic and money, too, since bottled water costs quite a bit of money.

Turn down the heat: By just adjusting the thermostats consumers could save up to 15 percent on heating and cooling bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Turning down the heat by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours can result in savings of 5-15 percent on your home heating bill Use a programmable thermostat to control your heating settings.

Buy local: Author and consumer advocate Michael Shuman argues that local small businesses are more sustainable because they are often more accountable for their actions, have smaller environmental footprints, and innovate to meet local conditions. Instead of relying exclusively on large supermarkets, consider farmers markets and local farms for your food.

Saddle up: Several cities across the U.S. are investing in new mobility options that provide exercise and offer an alternative to being cramped in subways or buses. Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. have major bike sharing programs that allow people to rent bikes for short-term use. Similar programs exist in other cities, and more are planned for places from Miami, Florida, to Madison, Wisconsin. If your city does not have a bike share program, fret not. Many cities have bike lanes and trails to make cycling an easier and more pleasant activity.

Plant a garden: Growing your own vegetables is a simple way to bring fresh and nutritious food literally to your doorstep. Researchers at the FAO and the United Nations Development Programme estimate that 200 million city dwellers around the world are already growing and selling their own food, feeding some 800 million of their neighbors. Growing a garden doesn’t have to take up a lot of space, and in light of high food prices and recent food safety scares, even a small plot can make a big impact on your diet and wallet. You can plant some lettuce in a window box. Lettuce seeds are cheap and easy to find, and when planted in full sun, one window box can provide enough to make several salads worth throughout a season.

Compost: There’s no better way to fertilize your garden than using your own composted organic waste. You will not only reduce costs by buying less fertilizer, but you will also help to cut down on food and other organic waste. If you are unsure about the right ways to compost, websites such as HowToCompost.org and organizations such as the U.S. Composting Council, provide easy steps to reuse your organic waste.

Go vegetarian: Livestock is the main source of emissions in the world; therefore adopting a plant-based diet is the single most effective sustainable action we can take. If you’re used to eating meat, start by reducing it incrementally (say, having three meat-free days per week). One good way to do that is to veganize your favorite dishes to give you motivation. The health benefits are immense, as well.

Article Courtesy: (written by Antonio Pasolini)

The road to sustainability has been plagued with roadblocks, including an unprecedented global financial crisis and attempts by entrenched business and political interests to deny climate science. Perhaps the greatest obstacle has been the lack of consistent and comparable standards for defining and measuring sustainability. Although these issues have yet to be fully resolved, many well-coordinated initiatives in recent years have pointed the way forward for companies and cities..

In 2012, major trends shaping the sustainable development movement include:

Transparency – Buildings, companies and cities are measuring and disclosing energy usage, carbon emissions and other information relating to sustainability. Commercial building owners don’t always have a choice: Five major U.S. cities and two states have enacted energy performance measurement and disclosure policies to date, and nine more cities and states have bills under considerations, to help tenants and investors make better informed decisions. Buildings in Europe are required to display energy performance certificates, and Australia is implementing similar requirements.

Corporations don’t require legal mandates to encourage disclosure. In 2011, more than 3,000 companies, including 404 Global 500 firms, voluntarily reported their carbon emissions, water management and climate change policies to Carbon Disclosure Project in 2011, perhaps swayed by CDP’s 551 investor members, who use the information in deciding where to place more than $71 trillion in investment capital.

Transparency is also on the rise at the city level. CDP invited 58 cities worldwide to report sustainability related data for the first time in 2011, and 42 responded, with 38 of them making their responses public. This year, CDP Cities is expanding its request to 150 cities and continues to see a high response rate, as well as extraordinary awareness and commitment on climate change issues by city leaders. These leaders recognize that managing energy, water and waste not only helps attract residents and business growth but also enhances quality of life in a variety of ways.

Global Consistency  –  Deeper sustainability  reporting by cities and multi-national corporations has intensified the need for consistent ways to measure the effectiveness of energy, water and other sustainability strategies on a worldwide basis. Given the wide regional variation in environmental priorities around the world, the end goal may not be a single global standard, but a way to translate local government and business practices into a common global vocabulary for measuring effectiveness and recognizing achievement..

LEED, the building sustainability rating system originated in the U.S., is now frequently pursued in many countries with their own systems, as owners seek to attract international tenants. ENERGY STAR, the U.S. EPA energy benchmarking standard, will soon be able to provide accurate ratings across North America, thanks to a new cooperative agreement with Canada. And in 2011 the International Organization for Standardization released the ISO 50001 standard for energy management systems, which includes specifications for measurement, documentation and reporting on energy consumption.

Consistent measurement is important to corporations as they focus on sustainability not only in their own operations but, increasingly, throughout their supply chain as well. And while CDP Cities is not attempting to rank the sustainability of cities, it is developing a globally cohesive framework for understanding the effectiveness of sustainability strategies pursued by different cities.

Public/Private Collaboration – 2011 stood out as a year when government and business organizations explored their shared green goals and realized that public-private partnerships and collaborative initiatives are often the best way to overcome obstacles to sustainability. Some of these joint efforts will start to bear fruit in 2012.

A clear  example is the December announcement of a $4 billion energy retrofit commitment by the U.S. federal government and 60 CEOs, mayors, university presidents, and labor leaders. Called the Better Buildings Challenge, the eight-year initiative includes $2 billion in energy upgrades of federal buildings and another $2 billion of private capital to improve energy by 20 percent in buildings totaling 1.5 billion square feet. (Jones Lang LaSalle joined the Challenge with a commitment to work with owners on improvements at buildings totaling 98 million square feet.)

The Better Buildings Challenge illustrates the alignment between business and government goals in seeking energy and carbon reduction. Achieving those goals also requires cooperation; for example, groups ranging from the World Economic Forum to Greenprint Foundation have called for changes to loan underwriting guidelines set by governmental bodies to facilitate financing of energy retrofits. More directly, U.S. states have found they can increase renewable energy installations at buildings by offering incentives that would make solar power cost-effective for owners within a relatively short period.

As a firm that serves government and business entities, Jones Lang LaSalle sees tremendous untapped synergy between the two groups in achieving energy and sustainability goals, particularly in the area of public-private partnerships. As just one of many examples, airports and other government entities often have surplus land that’s unsuitable for commercial property development but could be leased to private companies for development as large solar energy installations;

Focus on Solar Energy – Speakingof solar power, 2011 was a breakthrough year for new installations in the U.S., and continued growth is seen for 2012, albeit at a slower pace. More than 1 gigawatt of photovoltaic solar energy capacity was installed across the U.S. in the first three quarters of 2011, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). By comparison, 887 megawatts came online in all of 2010, which represented a doubling of the total installed base at the time.

Solar energy installations at commercial properties drove much of the market growth in 2011, but the pace of new installations dropped significantly in the third quarter, SEIA reported. The big story going into 2012 is the unprecedented rise in utility-based installations, which jumped by 325 percent from the second to the third quarter.

The strength of the solar market in 2012 and beyond will be affected by several variables, including basic supply and demand economics, technological improvements, and the amount and type of available incentives. It is clear, however, that interest in solar energy continues to grow as payback periods grow shorter and fossil fuel costs continue to rise.

2012: Taking Sustainability to the Next Level
 
The common theme to all these trends is of an industry poised to break through to the next level. The industry has moved swiftly through initial phases of understanding the basic costs and benefits, implementing low-cost initiatives, exploring more sophisticated strategies, and navigating around roadblocks. Today, it is easier to see the opportunity for dynamic progress by cities, property owners and corporate tenants that have laid the groundwork for growth and success.

Article Courtesy: (written by Jones Lang LaSalle)

Best practices are key for businesses in promoting transparency and sustainability and gaining of confidence of investors and stakeholders, according to top global and local corporate governance experts.

Global experts outlined promising features of excellence at the latest Dubai Dialogue, a leading biannual conference that promotes CSR, which was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Centre for Responsible Business.

With its aim to find the way forward to developing a holistic approach to sustainability, the conference examined shortcomings in corporate governance practices worldwide and outlined challenges and promising features of excellence in the field. It also looked into measurable and progressive governance models and mechanisms that can lead to organisational excellence and long term sustainability.

In three different sessions, the speakers shed light on the topics of corporate governance and the current financial turmoil, corporate governance a driver for sustainability and best practices in corporate governance. In his opening address, Dubai Chamber second vice-chairman Hisham Al Shirawi said that the recent global financial turmoil has questioned well established governance and economic systems and has forced global businesses to rethink the traditional norms and standards.

Al Shirawi mentioned that now businesses in the region are beginning to recognise that good corporate governance, risk management and corporate social responsibility is a pre-requisite for sustainability and competitiveness and the ultimate path to business reputation and therefore, new directions for corporate governance have to be devised.

He said that there is a strong link between good governance, business performance and sustainability, a relationship which has been frequently overlooked by traditional organisations and corporate system.

“Today, corporate governance demands higher global outreach by businesses as it is a source of core global competence and competitive advantage. For making governance work we need to move beyond compliance to achieve higher standards. The need here is to create a corporate governance system which is based on ethics, integrity, equity, legitimacy and transparency,” he added.

“For the UAE, good corporate governance is a key pillar underpinning the country’s reputation as a trusted financial and business hub. Meanwhile, significant regulatory reforms are taking place in UAE to further strengthen our governance regime. The idea is to enhance the fundamental regulatory framework supporting Dubai’s growth as an international hub for both businesses and investors,” he said.

He further said that through its Centre for Responsible Business, the Dubai Chamber aims to promote awareness and the practicing of CSR and good governance among Dubai’s business community, which he added is done through training courses, advisory services, seminars to raise awareness and various programmes which are designed to increase a company’s capacity to implement broad governance and CSR.

“Our sustained efforts to enhance corporate governance standards within the company and the community led to this milestone achievement, and we would like to emphasise upon the fact that corporate governance reflects upon a company’s image, leading to greater shareholder trust, which, in turn, leads to increased value,” du vice-president of board relations and corporate governance Mahmood Ahmad said.

David Crackett, vice-president of the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe, who blamed bad corporate governance for the ensuing problems caused by the global financial crisis, stated that excessive legislation will not bring about the change but the renaissance of a strong ethical business culture.

“Good corporate governance is critical for attracting investment and building sustainable businesses. This conference is very timely for raising awareness and sharing ideas about how to move corporate governance forward in the UAE,” NUS Business School associate professor of accounting Mak Yuen Teen said.

Image and Article Courtesy:

The students at the Mahalaxmi School in Nivaragi village in Karnataka, India carry a unique product in their school bags every day, apart from books, crayons and snacks. This product is a lightweight pocket-sized LED lamp charged by solar cells in schools. These lamps are provided free of cost to children in villages that have no electricity.

SELCO Solar Light, a Bangalore based social enterprise, is running this project, called “Light for Education,” in non-electrified villages in the state. SELCO has already lit more than 120,000 homes and 2,000 organizations, and touched the lives of half a million people since its inception in 1995.

Light for Education (LFE) project was piloted last year, and it has grown quickly to cover 40 non-electrified schools across Karnataka. The response to the project can be judged from the experience of a government high school in a remote village, 100 km from Bangalore. The project provided 40 lights to school students, and it created an immediate interest among the remaining students. The school has already sought 70 more lights and anticipates further demand.

The LFE project includes a centralized solar charging system, pocked sized batteries and LED study lamps. The solar charging system is installed at the school. Each student is provided with a lamp and a detachable battery. The lamps are kept at home where the child can study at night. Batteries are carried by the students in their school bags every day to charge them. After the day is over, they bring the charged batteries back home.

Ananth Aravamudam, a technical expert at SELCO Labs says that this social entrepreneurial project is already gathering more momentum. He says, “At least 10 donor organisations are interested in supporting such programmes. We already have nearly 10 donors, and the bulk of funds have come from Menda Charitable Trust.”

The base cost of this lighting project works out to be about $30 per student. Schools that join the LFE program bear about 25 percent of the cost of the project. SELCO finances the balance through social funding or donations. Maintenance after the first year is provided for by the schools. SELCO recommends that every participating school should collect an annual usage fee of $3 per student to cover maintenance costs, and make the program self-sustaining.

Image and Article Courtesy: (written by Vikas Vj)