Destination Ethiopia: Kudumbashree Mission Going Places

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Taking the state’s glory overseas, the tried and tested model for women empowerment Kudumbashree Mission is going places. After presenting an exemplary performance for other states to replicate, the activities of the poverty eradication mission are set to make waves in the African continent as it plans to sign an MoU with the Government of Ethiopia. In April this year, Kudumbashree executive director K B Valsalakumari had visited the country to become familiar with the places where the programme could be implemented.

 “Ethiopia has many women’s groups and they are good at raising funds. The programme differs from the women empowerment model we implemented here as they spend money for common needs instead of individual purposes. During the visit, I found much scope to implement the Kudumbashree activities there, such as horticulture. Kudumbashree will enter into a tie-up with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs,” Valsalakumari said.

Members from Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation  will reach Ethiopia before the programme is implemented. In 2012, a team led by  Zenebu Tadesse Woldetsadik, Minister for Women, Children and Youth Affairs of Ethiopia, had come to the state to learn about Kudumbashree projects.

They were taken to the BUDS school for the differently-abled, group farming ventures and the unit of Nutrimix food supplement run by Kudumbashree, in addition to participating in the Ayalkoottam meeting at Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram.

During the visit, the minister had hinted at the possibility of emulating the activities in Ethiopia. “Before reaching the implementation-level, a preparatory phase will be there, with a scope study, plan formulation for pilot phase and stakeholder consultations. The entire expense would be met by the Ethiopian Government. We are preparing the plan of action,” Valsalakumari said.

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