Kerala’s Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development inaugurated a second gathering for the annual meeting of AmritaSREE SHGs in the Kollam district. Another 10,000 members with the Ashram’s self-help group initiative for women attended to celebrate its 18th year.
“Through small enterprises, women can secure the income they need to lead better lives. Through AmritaSREE, it is possible to empower women not only economically, but also socially,” said Minister Chinchurani.
“This is a bridge for women to come forward in an organised manner, and empowered through self-help groups, they can become leaders in our communities.”
She said that in this way, women’s organisations can also strive to save our younger generation from the menace of other threats such as substance abuse.
India’s Member of Parliament for Kollam, NK Premachandran, presided over the function. He said: “By encouraging entrepreneurship, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math is fostering the development of skill sets for a large percentage of women in the society.
“Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and the Math come as a touch of comfort in the face of tragedy anywhere in the world.”
He added that organisations like AmritaSREE build a way for the women to become established business people without confining them to their households.
Swami Tapasyamritananda Puri delivered the blessing speech at the event. BJP District President BB Gopakumar, AmritaSREE Coordinator R Ranganathan, and others also addressed the gathering.
Aid packages of food, clothing, and financial assistance were distributed to the SHG members and ₹30,000 (US $360) was given as working capital to each group that consists of 20 members.
