Grand mums off to India

A GROUP of 12 grandmothers from West New Britain and Jiwaka have left for a six-month solar engineer training at Tilonia, Rajasthan, India.
Six each from WNB and Jiwaka were picked in line with the selection criteria that they should be grandmothers, widows and illiterate women who live in rural areas.
The 12 grandmothers will return on September 16.
WNB Governor Sasindran Muthuvel said they were sponsored by the Indian government under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation.
“The training will teach them how to use any kind of solar product, how to install it, repair it and assemble it.
He said the aim was for them to help villagers make use of solar power in their homes.
He said the training was like a village-based rural technology training that would equip them with skills such as manufacturing of wax, mosquito net weaving and other technical skills.
“Grandmothers were chosen for the training because they have the heart for their people, and would want to go back to their villages to implement what they have been taught,” he said.
He thanked the Indian government for its support.
Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang said it was a lifetime opportunity which would create immense benefit for the rural people.
“As we are a rural country we need to start looking at things that would transform our lives,” he said.
Talasia MP Francis Marus said electricity supply would improve living standards of rural people through such initiatives.