By MASEMBE TAMBWE, 25th September 2011 The Daily News
RURAL women will soon get a lifetime opportunity with the coming of a social work college to Tanzania, to be established by the Indian Government. Barefoot College known as Social Work and Research Centre is an NGO founded by Bunker Roy in 1972. It is a solar-powered school that teaches uneducated women from impoverished villages to become doctors, solar engineers, architects, and other such professions. "It is a done deal," said the Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr Kocheril Bhagirath. Mr Bhagirath told the 'Daily News' in an exclusive interview that the Minister of State President's Office, Public Service Management, Ms Hawa Ghasia, had made a formal request and the response was positive. He said the High Commission was in the process of writing up an offer notice showing that they would provide trainers and equipment after a building to house the college has been put up. "The receiving country decides the location of the college and provides a building. India brings trainers and equipment," he explained. Through the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, over 15 women who could neither read nor write have already enjoyed the benefits of a six-week training in India. The High Commissioner said the coming of the college will have a huge impact on the rural economy, as the country is blessed with plenty of sunshine, adding that education for women means minimizing many problems. The Minister of State, President's Office, Public Service Management, Ms Hawa Ghasia, said during the ITEC Day last week that the government sought to have the college established at home after the incredible results from the 15 trained women. Ms Ghasia said in Karatu district, over 400 households now have electricity thanks to eight women who only hold a certificate of primary school education who were trained at the Barefoot College in 2008. "We are currently holding a dialogue with the Indian High Commission to have women trained here in Tanzania," she explained. She said connection to electricity cost as low as 40 US dollars. ITEC was established by the Government of India in 1964 to facilitate sharing of experience, transfer of technology, capacity building and the development of human resources between developing nations. Between 1994 and 2010 over 1,500 public service employees have attended ITEC training programes. Mr Bhagirath said that India and Tanzania were key partners in capacity building, with Tanzania registering impressive strides in utilizing 175 training slots in 2010, the highest for any African country, and the second highest offered by India.
