“Sparsh” Women Federation, a cluster of Self Help groups promoted by Syngenta Santa Monica Works under their Community Development Project ”Sparsh” celebrated its Annual day on 1.12.2012 at “Shri Shantadurga Verlekarin” Hall at Marcel.
Mr. Deepak Dhavlikar, local MLA and Minister for Co-Operation and Factories & Boilers was the chief guest on the occasion. Ms. Auda Veigas a well-known women activist from Goa was the guest of honour and main speaker.
Present on the dais were Mr. Pratap Volvoikar, Sarpanch of Marcel Panchayat, Ms Sarvinda Tivrekar President of “Sparsh” Women federation, heads of corporate social responsibilities sygenta india limitied corlim, Mr. P.S.Jagadeesha and Mr. Sakharam Borkar.
Mr. Sakharam Borkar, in his welcome speech outlined various activities conducted for Self Help Groups under the project ”Sparsh”. “We have at present 100 self- help groups comprising of more than 2000 women linked with the project” he said.
Mr. P.S. Jagadeesha appealed the women to participate keenly in these Self Help Group activities so that they can add to the income of the family and be self- sufficient.
Ms. Sarvinda Tivrekar, President of the “Sparsh” Federation gave an account of various activities done in the year while two members of the federation shared their experiences.
Ms. Auda Veigas spoke on different issues pertaining to women and the ways to overcome them. She said that women should be pro-active and take actions before it is too late. As Goa is a tourist destination, she appealed the women to undertake making mementos made out of the shells, wood, coconut shells which have lot of demand.
Speaking on the occasion the chief guest Mr. Deepak Dhavlikar, local MLA and Minister for Co-Operation and Factories & Boilers said “I am very happy to be the part of this function wherein more than 500 women have gathered and therefore I congratulate Syngenta for getting a mass support for this initiative and appealed the women to take maximum benefits in form of trainings and exposure visits given by the company’
Dhavlikar said “our government has undertaken various initiatives for women and intended to start a Co-operative bank exclusively for Self Help groups of Goa and a marketing facility in the capital to sell the goods made by self- help groups.
Five best self Help groups were given musical instruments as prizes at the hands of the chief guest. Winners of the various competitions organized earlier were awarded prizes and certificates at the hands of dignitaries on dais.
Earlier in the day various competitions such as Folk dance competition, Cookery competition, Fancy dress competition, Singing competition, Rangoli competition were conducted for the women and women of all ages enthusiastically participated in the competitions. The audience witnessed a seventy year old lady taking part in the fancy dress competition.
