THE SCHEME ON ADITYA SOLAR SHOPS

1. Sales of different renewable energy and energy efficient devices;
2. Servicing and repair of the devices;
3. Dissemination of information on various renewable energy devices and systems.

1. Eligible Organizations for financial assistance

1. State Nodal Agencies for constructing, furnishing and running the solar shop. The agencies may also hand it over to manufacturers’ associations, NGOs etc. on franchise basis for its effective operation. State nodal agencies will be the overall coordinators.
    
2. Reputed non-governmental organizations which would be able to share their own buildings or hire space in prime locations in a city/town for establishing a solar shop. MNES may provide financial assistance for renovation alteration of the building, rent, furnishing and providing infra-structural facilities for setting up the solar shop. The NGO outlet must get clearance from the concerned state nodal agency for routing the subsidy through the shop counter.

The subsidies available from the central government and where possible from the state governments for various products will be made available through these recognized Aditya solar shops.

2. Financial Assistance :

1. Non-Recurring Grant:
   The quantum of financial assistance which is provided by the Ministry as non-recurring grant for setting up a solar shop may be up to:
    
   1. Rs. 5 lakhs - for construction/purchase and furnishing of the building and providing infrastructural facilities in case it is to be constructed/acquired mainly by government organizations on government land.
       
   2. Rs. 3 lakhs for renovation/alteration of the building, its furnishing and provision of infrastructural facilities in case the shop is established in an already constructed building.
       
   3. Rs. 3 lakh including rent for one year, in case the showroom is established in rented premises.
       
2. Recurring Grant:
   In addition to the above one time grant, a recurring grant of Rs 50,000 per year for the first two years is also provided to each solar shop. This grant may be given for a third year also if the shop is in a rented premises and is being run well. Further continuation of the recurring grant is not envisaged fpr most of the solar shops as these are supposed to be run on business lines
    
3. Publicity Support:
   The Government directly releases advertisements regarding the establishment and operation of various Aditya solar shops. In addition, a publicity grant up to Rs. 1.0 Iakh per year is provided to those solar shops whose performance is considered satisfactory. A separate grant may be provided for publicity connected with the opening of a shop.

3. Guidelines for setting up of the Shops
    
   1. The solar shops should be located in an easily accessible part of the city.
   2. The solar shops are to function on normal business lines and are expected to earn revenues for their operation and maintenance in future. The MNES will assume no liability towards the staff deployed at the shops.
   3. The solar shop must also provide repair & servicing facility not only for the products being sold by the shop but also for other renewable energy products/devices installed/procured by some other source at reasonable price.
   4. The shops / showrooms are to be operated as customer-friendly outlets. Rigid or inconvenient timings and indifferent service should be avoided.
   5. The price list of the items, to be sold in the solar shop, should be properly displayed / made available to the public.
   6. To make the solar shops a commercially viable entity, the shops are allowed to sell energy efficient items such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), lighting accessories, high efficiency kerosene stoves etc.
   7. For benefit of the customers, the Aditya Solar Shop will establish a linkage with banks providing soft loan for various renewable energy products.