Judith Ravin, US consul general interacted with women micro-entrepreneurs supported by US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) producer-owned women enterprises (Power) project during her visit to Madurai. She was accompanied by Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the minister of finance.
These micro-entrepreneurs have earned for themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rajan said that the project is a great example of US government’s strong commitment for economic empowerment of women in India, adding that she hopes to see more women-owned enterprises emerge from Tamil Nadu.
Initiated in September 2019, the Power project helps women to collectively own and operate their enterprises and work closer to their homes. It operates in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha and was developed in partnership with the Industree Crafts Foundation (ICF).
“It is wonderful to visit and meet the local women and hear how this project is transforming their lives,” Ravin said.
ICF co-founder Neelam Chibber said that the project had established 12 women-owned enterprises and was directly impacting 2,400 women and their families. She said they hoped to scale up to 3,600 women by 2022.
Speaking at the function organised at Thanakankulam, the Consul general said it was wonderful to visit and meet with local women and listen to them on how the project had transformed their lives.
Rajan said that such projects from the US would help build good relationship between the USA and India. Appreciating the opportunity given to the womenfolk from the rural background, he said the Dravidian movement in the State had played a big role in women empowerment.
