Climate change is having a huge impact on society and people’s lives. The role of women in society is particularly important to combat it. India and Germany have jointly taken various initiatives in this regard. The role of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is notable in this regard, said German Ambassador to Kolkata Barbara Voss. Recently, a discussion on Gender and Diversity in the Changing Climate was organized at the Gothe Institute in Kolkata. The German Ambassador said that India and Germany have jointly taken various initiatives to combat the effects of climate change. The two countries are working on how rural women can cope with this situation more easily and in the long term. Rina Devi, a housewife from a remote village in Mohanpur, Bihar, shared her experience at the discussion. She said that just as the Prime Minister’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has provided them with a livelihood opportunity, the Irada team, with German cooperation, has opened up an alternative income path for them by cultivating sesame on dry land and making tilakut at home and selling it. They were the ones who proposed cultivating sesame on barren land without irrigation. Reena kept talking about Irada’s sisters. Self-help groups have been formed in the village under her leadership. They are taking their mission forward by sharing their joys and sorrows. After Reena finished speaking, there was an important discussion on climate change. Among the discussants were Sarbanan Kumar, Kanta Singh, Julie Zivell, and others.
India-Germany joint initiatives to combat the impacts of climate change
