Sashi Kiran

Sashi Kiran is a Fijian politician, social entrepreneur and activist, who since December 2022 has served as the Assistant Minister of Woman, Children and Poverty Alleviation. She is a member of the National Federation Party. She is the founder and former director of a non-profit community organisation known as Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) in Fiji.[1] In 2015 she was appointed a member of Fiji's Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission.[2]

Sashi Kiran
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for NFP List
Assumed office
14 December 2022
Personal details
BornFiji

Early life

Kiran worked as a journalist for Fiji Commuications before joining the Fiji Council of Social Services.[3] Following the 2000 Fijian coup d'état Kiran founded FRIEND in 2001 to create income generating opportunities for rural and semi-urban settlements and villages, with a particular focus on youth and people with special needs.[3] Some of its projects include a line of chutneys made by women in rural communities with raw ingredients purchased from small-holder farmers, flours made from local crops, greeting cards made by people with disabilities and herbal teas.[1] In 2017 the organisation opened a restaurant specialising in traditional Fijian and Indian food.[4] The organisation also works on disaster response initiatives, rehabilitation and healing, and peace building projects.[1]

Kiran has worked with the Commonwealth Foundation on a regional report on citizens and good governance and served on the executive council of international NGO CIVICUS as well as Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education. In 2017 she served on the Commonwealth Elections Observer Team for the 2017 elections in Papua New Guinea.[1]

Political career

In November 2022 Kiran resigned from FRIEND[5] to stand in the 2022 Fijian general election as a candidate for the National Federation Party.[6][7] Her decision resulted in her being attacked by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who accused her of using FRIEND as a front for her political agenda.[8] She won 2024 votes[9] and was elected to the Parliament of Fiji.[10] On 24 December 2022 she was appointed Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.[11]

References
  1. "Sashi Kiran". The Pacific Community. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  2. "FWRM Congratulates Newly Appointed-Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissioners". THE JET | Fiji's First Community Newspaper. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. "Kiran, Ali Long at the Helm of Prominent NGOs". Fiji Sun. 26 June 2021 – via Press reader.
  4. "Food Locally Sourced Ingredients For New Tukuni Restaurant". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. Rashika Kumar (3 November 2022). "Sashi Kiran resigns as FRIEND CEO". Fiji Village. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. "'Human rights violations' propel popular community worker into politics". RNZ. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  7. Krishneel Nair (6 December 2022). "I dived into contesting the 2022 elections for many reasons – Sashi Kiran". Fiji Village. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  8. Zodelle Bhan (12 November 2022). "Sayed-Khaiyum claims Sashi Kiran was using FRIEND Fiji for her political advancement". Fiji Village. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  9. "Sashi Kiran (207)". Fijian Elections Office. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. Singh, Indira (18 December 2022). "Top 55 confirmed". FBC. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  11. Apenisa Waqairadovu (24 December 2022). "Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG". FBC News. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
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