Rajeev Ahal, Director (Natural Resource Management Department) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German-based development agency, said that “participating in Madurai Symposium gives one the feeling of being part of a farmer’s version of the Maha Kumbh Mela.”
He was speaking at the eighth edition of the symposium here on Wednesday. The theme was ‘Building resilience for sustaining development.’ The focus was on the process of avoiding financial shock to those in rural, coastal and tribal areas. Experts from various fields, 1,200 farmers, self-help groups, bankers and donors took part in the event that takes place once in two years.
M. P. Vasimalai, executive director, Dhan Foundation, said that this collective exchange of knowledge from different stakeholders would provide constructive solution to pertinent problems. The community resilience fund, a coping mechanism introduced by Dhan Foundation in 2016, needs to scale up.
Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao released a book of Dhan Foundation and an audio CD about coastal resilience. He marvelled at the staggering number of women representatives from SHGs. He explained the different government schemes and stated that several efforts were being taken to restore the Vaigai. Subject experts Annette Houtekamer-van Dam (micro insurance), B.J. Pandian (water technology), S. Suresh Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director, Pallavan Grama Bank, and P. J. Nicholson, Senior Divisional Manager, Life Insurance Corporation of India, spoke.
As many as 54 events like conventions, stakeholder forum, workshops and training are planned. A short film festival and an exhibition of farmers’ produce will be available so that the public can participate. The symposium comes to a close on September 24.
