Indian organisations in Ashden finals

While the Aryavart Grameen Bank has been picked as finalist for its efforts in realising solar power for the rural poor, TIDE's tailormade stoves took the organisation to the finals. The other finalists include Uganda's Fruits of the Nile and Brazil's Cooperativa Regional de Electrificacao Rural do Alto Uruguai (CRERAL) for enabling the co-operative boost in rural economy with hydro-power.

An Ashden communication said here that next week, these finalists from Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Tanzania and Uganda will be in London to compete for up to 150,000 pounds in prize money, and to explain how their low-tech schemes benefit both the environment and the local communities they serve.

On June 19, the winners of the 2008 Ashden Awards for sustainable energy will be announced at the Royal Geographical Society, with Kenyan Nobel Prize winner Dr Wangari Maathai presenting the awards.

The international finalists will compete for prizes totalling more than 150,000 pounds, with the overall winner (Energy Champion) receiving 40,000 pounds to help project expansion and promote replication.