We saw a lot of clever machines last week in Manipal!

• Rope making machine
• Sewing machine
• Photocopier
• Milking machine
• Pottery machine

FSL India’s HBP-Team from Kundapur was invited to SELCO Foundation’s event of presenting a new batch of useful products for small businesses. What all these inventions had in common was their independency from the power grid. Even though many of the inventions shown in this event were technical machines with the need of energy supply, SELCO Foundation managed to make them all sustainable in the 3 different aspects they aim for. Including the ecological one, this means that there should be no pollution produced by the products. They achieved this by attaching the Roti machine, the electrical rice polisher, the fridge and all the other equipment to a battery powered by a solar panel.

It is important for SELCO Foundation to follow all the dimensions of sustainability. Apart from the environment, they also make sure that the objects they are promoting are socially fair. For instance, one of the machines that was originally planned to be powered by solar too, was reconsidered. Since there are several jobs relying on the work of running the machine manually, SELCO Foundation went with a model that still uses manpower. The machine was improved in efficiency and is also easier to manage, but the social perspective being kept priority, the same number of workers is still needed.

Of course, another main goal to make all these products available around India is the economical side. SELCO Foundation wants to empower self-employed workers in small or family businesses, especially in rural areas. They are independent from big companies and might struggle to keep track with the development in modern times. By providing the support of machines and clever inventions, SELCO Foundation contributes to higher productivity, so that the businesses can scale up their sales. The result is also saving expenses and time by changing to electrical and/or faster production solutions.

In order to make it possible for the small family businesses to invest in the new technology, SELCO Foundation has teamed up with an independent bank that provides loans for funding without demanding documentation and safety.

SELCO Foundation also cooperates with a lot of local organisations, in order to be able to reach out to the people in the rural areas. This is key to success, since the local organisations also can strengthen the trust built relationship needed in order for the small entity entrepreneurs to be willing to take a chance and invest in the SELCO solutions.

The things SELCO Foundation test and present are inventions from all around the world or combinations of those. They always keep up to date with the new technology. Taking into account that SELCO Foundation already started 10 years ago, it is no wonder that they are currently using the 3^rd generation of batteries in combination with their solar panels.

FSL is just participating in one of their programs right now: the foundation is providing solar light’s for FSL-India Tent School and Tent Community.