KOCHI: Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Sanitation and Drinking Water Chaudhary Birender Singh on Thursday lauded Kerala’s initiatives in women’s empowerment, and urged the other states to emulate the Kerala model in this regard.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the sales counter at the Jackfruit Festival, organised jointly by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and the Kudumbashree at Marine Drive here on Thursday.
“Kerala has been doing exceedingly well in women’s welfare programmes like the women-led self-help group Kudumbashree,” he said. The Minister visited all the stalls at the Festival, and interacted with the organisers. K V Thomas MP, Dominic Presentation MLA, Deputy Mayor B Bhadra, Kudumbashree director Valsalakumari and Central Panchayati Raj joint director Sharada Muraleedaran were also present.
Some of the jackfruit items that attracted visitors at the festival were ‘jackfruit biriyani’, ‘jackfruit bhaji’, ‘jackfruit salad’ and jackfruit banana fry.