Summit: Spouses of African heads to get culinary tips

Spouses of African heads of the states participating in the India-Africa Summit here will be given tips on how to cook Indian delicacies besides being provided a trip to historical monuments and exposure to Benarasi handlooms.
With some 20 spouses of the heads of the African states expected to visit India for the India-Africa Summit (IAFS), the Ministry of External Affairs has made elaborate arrangements for them.
The government has also roped in India's Ambassador to UNESCO Ruchira Kamboj, who is also the Chief Protocol Officer in the MEA.
"She has chalked out a plan which will be mix of cultural exposure to monuments as well as a modern fashion show which will highlight the handlooms of Benaras. In addition, we have got two master chefs who will be cooking and demonstrating for the spouses on how they can perhaps make Indian food in a very short time," Syed Akbaruddin, IAFS chief coordinator said.

The spouses will also interact with 'Solar Grandmothers' from Africa, who are being trained in Tilona in Rajasthan.
"Solar grandmothers are being trained in Rajasthan. Bunker Roy (founder of Barefoot College) is bringing some of the grandmothers from Africa from where these spouses are. This is a unique programme where women above the age of 35 are brought to India. 350 women African women have learnt and gone back where solar has energy is used for lighting 15,000 villages," Akbaruddin said.

Every year the Barefoot College, an NGO working for solar electrification, clean water, education, livelihood and development works with local and national organisations to establish a commitment with the village elders.

The elders select two grandmothers to be trained as solar engineers, to choose a village committee composed of men and women to help operate the solar programme, collect funds from each participating household and provide a workshop building where the grandmothers can run their operations.
The solar engineers are specifically middle-aged women with strong roots in the village.
Since 2008, the grandmothers have managed to provide electricity to more than 40,000 households, bringing light to more than 450,000 individuals in 1,015 villages.