THANNAMANDI, Oct 30: In a significant initiative aimed at fostering gender sensitivity, promoting women’s empowerment and strengthening awareness of women’s legal rights, Women Development Cell in collaboration with Cultural and Literary Committee, under the visionary patronage of Principal (Dr.) Shamim Ahmed Azad, Government Degree College, Thannamandi organised a Sustained Awareness-cum-Sensitization Programme and Pledge Ceremony. The progamme was devised on Women-Centric Schemes, the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act and Dowry, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare, Rajouri, District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), and District Legal Services Committee, Thannamandi.
Nazma Sheikh, Gender Specialist, District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), served as the resource person for the programme. In her insightful and informative deliberation, she acquainted the participants with various women-centric government schemes, welfare initiatives and institutional support mechanisms intended to facilitate women’s socioeconomic empowerment. She also elaborated upon the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the POSH Act, highlighting the importance of awareness, prevention and effective grievance-redressal mechanisms in ensuring safe and dignified workplaces.
Addressing the deeply entrenched social evil of dowry, Sheikh sensitized the participants to its adverse social, psychological and legal implications. She emphasized the need to challenge discriminatory customs, dismantle patriarchal stereotypes and foster collective responsibility towards building a society founded on equality, dignity and justice.
A significant highlight of the programme was the pledge ceremony, which reaffirmed the collective commitment of the participants to uphold women’s dignity, oppose dowry practices, prevent gender-based discrimination and harassment, and promote a culture of equality, respect and social accountability.
The proceedings commenced with a formal welcome address delivered by Prof. Rumy Dar, HOD, English and concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, Head, Department of Physics who expressed her sincere gratitude to the resource persons from collaborating Department of Social Welfare, District Hub for Women Empowerment and District Legal Services Committee Thannamandi, Dr Gulshan Rashid Bhat Convener Cultural Literary Committee, Prof. Fatima Parveen Convener Women Development cell, faculty members; Prof. Supriya Gupta Dr.Nagina Kouser, Prof. Rizwana Kouser, Prof Yasmine Kouser, Dr Attiq ul Rehman, Dr Shazia Paswal, Dr Mohd Ashrif and students for their valuable contributions towards making the programme meaningful and successful.