Mangaluru is all set to witness an unprecedented celebration of grassroots empowerment as over 1.5 lakh women from self-help groups (SHGs) across seven Karnataka districts gather for a massive convention under the Navodaya SHG Movement. Travelling in over 3,000 buses and dressed in coordinated blue sarees, the participants will turn the coastal city into a vibrant sea of solidarity and strength.
This landmark event marks 25 years of the Navodaya Movement, founded by Dr. M.N. Rajendra Kumar, who emphasized that the convention is not just a celebration, but a platform to frame key resolutions to further women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance.
Dr. Kumar proudly highlighted the reach of the movement—over 9 lakh women actively engaged in various SHG models, making it one of the largest of its kind. The convention will explore critical themes like financial literacy, rural entrepreneurship, marketing infrastructure, and access to credit.
The gathering has drawn national interest, with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expected to attend and study the movement’s successful framework. A host of dignitaries including Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, MPs, MLAs, and cooperative leaders from across the country will also participate.
Dr. Kumar recalled the pivotal roles played by leaders like D.K. Shivakumar and Dr. Veerendra Heggade, who helped lay the foundation of the movement.
This mega convention is poised to reaffirm Mangaluru’s role as a beacon of cooperative innovation and could inspire similar efforts across India.
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