'Solar Mamas' demonstrate skills before PM Modi in Tanzania

Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), July 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with 'Solar Mamas', a group of rural women solar engineers from Africa, who have been trained under the Government of India-supported programmes in Dar-es-Salaam. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup in a series of tweets confirmed the meeting. "Celebrating the Solar Mamas! PM interacts with women trained in vocational skills under India's developmental support," Swarup tweeted. A group of about 30 Solar Mamas from Tanzania and a few other African countries demonstrated their skills in fabrication, repair and maintenance of solar lanterns and household lighting system in the presence of Prime Minister Modi. Solar Mamas also presented their honey-extraction and stitching practices and sung a song "we shall overcome" before the Prime Minister. He also posed for the pictures with the Solar Mamas before haeding to next engagement here. "One for the cameras and an iPad! PM @narendramodi poses with the Solar Mamas," Swarup tweeted. Apart from Prime Minister Modi and other senior officials, the presentation was also attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tanzania, Dr. Susan A. Kolimba, and Zanzibar Minister of Land, Housing, Water and Energy, Salama Aboud Talib. The Solar Mamas come from across Africa, and are trained at Barefoot College in Rajasthan, or the centre in Tanzania. The Solar Mamas are trained in solar electrification and entrepreneurial skills such as bee-keeping and tailoring," Swarup said. Barefoot College in Rajasthan's Tilonia village has been promoting and training rural illiterate and semi-literate women solar engineers (Solar Mamas) from Africa in fabrication, installation, use, repair and maintenance of solar lanterns and household solar lighting system under India's governments -supported programmes. On August 2015, Barefoot College set up a barefoot women vocational training college in Zanzibar Island of Tanzania other countries in Africa for imparting solar electrification skills and distributing solar kits to trainees. They also support various entrepreneurial skills such as bee-keeping, tailoring, etc. (ANI)