KUDUMBASREE
14TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
It
will be a women’s celebration all through. As many as 15,000 of them from
across the State are expected for the 14th anniversary celebrations of
Kudumbasree Kochi on October 1.The Marine Drive will be aglow with the charms
of a grand fair — a trade, food and cultural festival beginning on Thursday
will showcase how women have empowered themselves through a variety of
initiatives under the Kudumbasree community development programmes. The
festival will conclude on October 2.At a press meeting here on Tuesday,
Panchayats and Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneer said a Pusthaka Yatra
(Journey of Books) would be the highlight of the festival.
Members
of Kudumbasree Ayalkoottams (neighbourhood groups) have been motivated to share
their life’s experiences in writing. These are stories of how coming together
helped them build a better life; how they were able to contribute to one
another’s progress; and how collective action has helped them build a better
society.There are 1,072 books, born out of perhaps the first such large-scale
grassroots-level writing exercise. Ordinary women have narrated stories of
their extraordinary lives in their own language. Dr. Muneer said the best of
the stories would be compiled into a special selection. All these books would
be available to researchers, media persons or anyone interested in understanding
the lives of ordinary women in the State.
The
journey of the books has begun from both ends of the State and they will reach
here after passing through 132 points. The written pieces from the district
will be received on October 1 by Kudumbasree Executive Vice-Chairman Aruna
Sundararajan and other members of the Board. At a public meeting at the Marine
Drive to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the books will be
dedicated to the people.The Kudumbasree units in Ernakulam district will
prepare packed lunch for the participating women in the event. The district
will have the highest representation with 12,000 women, while the rest of the
units from across the States will be sending in their representatives.Other
events during the festival will be a media seminar with a debate on the topic
“Women and media” and an annual meeting of Kudumbashree units.
Public
Works Minister V.K. Ebhahim Kunju will inaugurate the trade and food festival.
The cultural events will be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan.
Dr. Muneer will preside over the function. Writer M. Leelavathi will evaluate
the written pieces and ignite the experience lamp. Union Minister of State for
Food K.V. Thomas; Finance Minister K.M. Mani and other Minister will
participate.
Prof.
John Kurakar
No comments:
Post a Comment