10 Mar 2014|Noida | Amity University Campus, Sector-125 Noida
International Women’s Day Celebrations conclude at Amity University
Saluting the sterling spirit of woman and honoring her immense contribution, Amity University observed International Women’s Day Celebrations from March 6 – 10, 2014 at Amity Campus, Sector- 125, Noida.
During the Celebration, “Free Health Check up Camp” was organized for female students, faculty members and staff. Several tests including Pap Smear Test, ECG, BMR, Dental Check up, Blood Sugar & Blood Pressure were conducted by the expert panel of doctors from Apollo and Metro Hospitals, Preet Vihar. Over 302 females underwent ECG, 328 registered for Dental Check up and 478 for Blood Sugar and BP.
Students from various institutions participated in Debate Competitions, Panel Discussions, Stage Shows, Nukkad Nataks organized during the three days and disseminated the message of women empowerment and gender equality. More than 3,000 students took a pledge to protest female feticide. A theme lunch was organized depicting traditional village of Rajasthan while highlighting the struggle of a woman in rural India.
During the Valediction, a panel of female experts from diverse backgrounds presented their views on the topic “Gender Sensitization Towards Women Empowerment : Way Forward”. Ms. Deepa Ahluwalia- Lead Gender Specialist, Asian Development Bank chaired the session.
Addressing the gathering and sharing her views, Dr. B. Shukla- Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh stressed that women should not feel that they are inferior to anybody. Women play a very important role in family, in society and in the country and the roots of gender inequality stems from the family itself. She called upon the gathering to rear up their daughters and sons in an unbiased environment and ingrain in their sons, the feeling of respect for female rights from the beginning. She remarked that men and women are complementary to each other and they have to support each other to mutually progress.
While sharing her views during the Panel Discussion, Dr. Suman Kapur- Dean, International Programmes Division, Senior Professor Biological sciences, BITS- Pilani-Hyderabad stressed that women have always contributed to the social and economic development of the country and its just that her efforts need to be acknowledged. She implored all the women to respect themselves and give importance to their own selves in order the receive respect from men
Prof. Alka Sharma, Dean, Humanities & Social Sciences, JIIT Noida attributed gender inequality to class, caste and patriarchal structure of the society and stressed that women from all strata of society suffer gender inequality. Rural women or Working women may face different kinds of inequalities, therefore, the solutions have to be customized and designed keeping in view the social realities.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Neelam Sood- Department of School & Non formal Education, National University of Planning and Administration (NUPA), New Delhi shared four parameters that could assure women empowerment – Education, Ability to participate in decision making, Equal participation in developmental processes and Self Esteem. She stressed that younger generation is the best hope and opined that sensitization of children regarding gender equality should start at an early age, since once attitudes and beliefs are set, they are difficult to change.
Dr. Indu Kumar, NCERT, New Delhi brought out how the school books promote gender bias and gender inequality. She citied textbooks from various States and highlighted how textbooks stereotype women as gender confined to the four walls of house and do not project women in the right light. “The knowledge construction in various textbooks is devoid of women references and the content allocation to women in entire textbook is very less,” shared Dr. Kumar. She called upon the Government, Academia, Civil Society and Media to join hands and disseminate the message of Women Empowerment.
Mr. Vipin Gaur, General Secretary – News Paper Association of India and Ms. Mamta Bhatia also shared their views during Panel Discussion.
The Panel discussion was followed by Felicitation Ceremony wherein women achievers from different fields were felicitated with “Amity Women’s Achievers Awards” including Ms. Rashmi Singh -Executive Director, National Resource Centre for Women, National Mission for Empowerment of Women, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ms. Deepa Ahluwalia- Lead Gender Specialist, Asian Development Bank, Dr. Chandrakala Padia- Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Maharaj Ganga Singh University, Bikaner, Dr. Sunita Saxena-Director, Institute of Pathology, Indian Council of Medical Research ,Ms. Kushal Singh -Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Prof. Jane Schukoske- CEO, S M Sehgal Foundation, Gurgaon and Former Executive Director, United States- India Educational Foundation, Padma Shri Dr. Sunil Dabas- Dronacharya Awardee and National Women's Kabaddi Team Coach and Ms. Sandhya Arun- IT Consultant.
The valediction ceremony concluded with a colorful cultural performance by the students of Amity University wherein they re-inforced the need for Women empowerment and Women equality.