Mahila Gram Sabha and food processing training at Maria Bhavan, Bableshwar

📅 August 23, 2015 • 📍 Maria Bhavan, Bableshwar

This entry covers two events. In the Mahila Gram Sabha (Women’s Village Council) event, more than 60 Self Help Group (SHG) women from Bableshwar participated in a Gram Sabha meeting held at Maria Bhavan. They felicitated the newly elected Gram Panchayat members and raised issues concerning women, such as the need for better roads, street lights, water, and toilet schemes. Most importantly, they urged the authorities to register all SHG groups in the "Poor In Poor" category to enable the women to easily access government schemes. The Food Processing Training program was inaugurated a few weeks prior for SHG members. Guests present included Rev. Sr. Ritha Dora Thomas, the Provincial; Sr. Rita D’Souza, the Provincial Economer; Sr. Thresia Plathara and Sr. Vandana Malya of Laura Vicuna Nivas - Ahmednagar; Fr. Vilas Sonavane, the Parish Priest; and Mr. Ashitosh Ghanekar, Project Director of MCED. The inauguration began with the lighting of the lamp, and each guest was felicitated with a shawl and a coconut. Sr. Catherine Pereira introduced Sr. Ritha as the newly elected Provincial, who, in her speech, delivered a message of empowerment and wished the women success in their income-generating programs. The training, provided by the Maharashtra Centre for Entrepreneur Development (MCED) from August 23 to September 19, was greatly beneficial. The sessions included a talk on Time Management by Mr. S.G. Irorekar, a Business Consultant; classes on making Amla candy, Jam, and Tomato ketchup by Mrs. Sunita Lande, a Trainer in Food Process; lessons on different kinds of masalas and juices by Mrs. Vaishali Niral, a Social Worker; and a session on Marketing by Mr. Kumar G. Dodia, a Bank Manager. The 30 participating women were excited to learn new skills and will receive a government certificate. A big thank you was extended to MCED. (Report by Sr. Catherine Pereira)