Koraput: The Internal Complaints Committee of the Central University of Odisha (CUO), Koraput organised a webinar titled “Gender Mainstreaming in Workplace: Vigilance & Initiatives”.
Prof Nilima Srivastava, Director, School of Gender and Development Studies, IGNOU delivered the keynote address, Ms. Namrata Chaddha, Chairman, Mahila Adhikar Abhiyan, Prof Sheela Suryanarayanan, Head, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Hyderabad and Dr. Sarojini Sarangi, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Sarojini Hospital, Cuttack spoke on the occasion.
Vice-Chancellor of the CUO, Prof. I. Ramabrahmam delivered the inaugural address. Dr. Kakoli Banerjee, Assistant Professor, DBCNR and Presiding Officer, ICC welcomed all the dignitaries and explained the scope and significance of the ICC and Gender studies.
The Vice-Chancellor outlined the importance of the Gender Equality programme not only at the Govt. level but also at University levels in his inaugural address. He urged the CSR wings of PSU’s and Banks to distribute 20-30 laptops or tablets to tribal girls for their empowerment.
Prof. Srivastava delivered the keynote address titled ‘Women at Workplace: Conceptualizing Gender Mainstreaming as a Strategy’. She emphasized on the issues of work valuation done by men and women in society and the psychological, institutional and situational barriers for women in society. Hence change in attitude is required to bring up a girl child, she averred.
The other three eminent women resource persons from Academia and Social service spoke on three different aspects of women at workplace. Ms Namrata Chaddha, Chairman, Mahila Adhikar Abhiyan presented on ‘Struggling for Survival in Unorganized Sector’. Prof Sheela Suryanarayanan, Head, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Hyderabad spoke on the topic ‘Gender Inequalities at Workplace in India: Present Situation & Persisting Challenges’. Dr Sarojini Sarangi, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Sarojini Hospital, Cuttack deliberated on the subject “Gender Discrimination from Womb to Tomb”.
All the distinguished speakers highlighted the present situation of women at workplace and sensitized the audience on various gender aspects. The deliberations were followed by an interactive session where members of the faculty & students shared their observations and asked questions to which the speakers responded professionally.
Prof. P. Durgaprasad, Visiting Professor, Department of Sociology, CUO in his curtain raiser described the importance of working on upliftment of women in an aspirational district like Koraput. He also highlighted the policy instruments for Critical Path Analysis needed for the progress of women in particular. He also summed up the programme highlighting the commitment of the CUO to uphold the women’s rights & dignity at workplace. He appreciated the reflections of the experts even while contextualizing them in the socio-economic matrix and outlined the CUO gender initiatives, especially in view of the forthcoming Women’s Day.
Dr Kakoli Banerjee, Presiding Officer concluded the webinar by presenting a vote of thanks. She also declared the winners of the competitions organized for students and scholars on short-story writing and pictorial communication on the themes of Gender Equity in Society and Gender Violence at Workplace.
