The Hindu : Front Page : Merkel interacts with SHG members

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Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
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Merkel interacts with SHG members

Special Correspondent

— Photo: AP

ENTHUSIASTIC INTERACTION: German Chancellor Angela Merkel with members of self-help groups at the NABARD office in Mumbai on Wednesday.

MUMBAI: For scores of women members of self-help groups (SHGs) from different parts of the country, it was a unique opportunity of sharing their views and problems with a world leader — German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The occasion was Dr. Merkel’s visit to the headquarters of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) here on Wednesday.

She spent more than 45 minutes with the rural women, discussing various aspects of SHG formation, its functioning and impact on their lives.

Dr. Merkel, who drove straight to the NABARD office from the airport, was greeted Y.S.P. Thorat, Chairman, and K.G. Karmakar, Managing Director.

She was accompanied by a business delegation from Germany.

Visits exhibition

The Chancellor visited an exhibition of handicrafts and SHG members from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal, displayed their wares.

Dr. Merkel also reviewed an array of projects taken up by NABARD in collaboration with German development agencies KfW and GTZ, mainly in watershed, tribal development and micro credit.

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