PM meets 'Solar Mamas' of Africa trained in India

Africa’s proud female solar engineers called Solar Mamas got a chance to interact with PM Modi in Tanzania on Sunday. What's interesting is that these solar engineers are actually trained by a developmental training centre in India- Barefoot College in Rajasthan. A group of 30 Solar Mamas met with the PM along with some officials from the College itself.

“Celebrating the Solar Mamas!PM interacts with women trained in vocational skills under India’s developmental support,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted from his Twitter account. The women showed the PM their skills of honey-extraction and stitching practices. Also present at this meeting were Deputy Foreign Minister of Tanzania Dr Susan A Kolimba and Zanzibar Minister of Land, Housing, Water and Energy, Salama Aboud Talib.

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The women who attended the meeting with the PM were from six African countries. They were trained in the art of making solar lanterns to light up their homes in their respective villages where electricity is either scarce or not there at all. There were also equipped by the college to come back to their countries and teach other women the technique of making and repairing solar lanterns.

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The Barefoot College is situated in Tiloniya, Rajasthan, and was established by social activist Bunker Roy, who was selected as one of Time's 100 most influential personalities in 2010. The college trains not just Indian rural women but those from other countries as well, especially the African continent. Training is provided in various areas like solar, water, education and other professions. Established over forty years ago, its aim is to reach women in the least developed countries and educate them in skills that they can take back to their country and villages and teach other women too.

Feature Image Credit: India Today