UNHCR, SICCI, and Ethiraj College for Women join hands to advance refugee inclusion

The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), and Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on education, research, and community engagement aimed at promoting refugee self-reliance and inclusion in India.

The partnership brings together the academic expertise of Ethiraj College for Women with the technical and operational experience of UNHCR and the SICCI-UNHCR Partnership Forum. It works to support the self-reliance and socio-economic inclusion of refugees in India, including Sri Lankan refugees residing in Tamil Nadu, an official release from the UNHCR stated.

Under the MoU, the Department of Social Work will serve as the nodal department for coordinating and implementing collaborative activities. The MoU was signed by P. Ganapathi, former president of SICCI; V.M. Muralidharan, Chairman, Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous) and S. Uma Gowrie, Principal and Secretary, Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous). UNHCR Head of Field Office Valan Michael was present.