A REPORT OF NATIONAL SEMINAR ON

“EMERGING ROLES OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN SOCIETY”

AT

NITTTR, BHOPAL ON 10^TH MARCH 2010

 Introduction:

To mark the celebration of Women’s’ Day in the year 2010, a national seminar on “EMERGING ROLES OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN SOCIETY” was organized by National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research, Shamla Hills, Bhopal on 10^th March 2010. To make the event a memorable event and for smooth functioning various committees were formulated under the leadership of Director Prof. Vijay Agrawal. The coordinator of the Seminar was Prof.( Mrs). Manjul Saxena and the core team members include Prof. (Mrs). Susan S. Mathew, Dr. (Mrs). Kiran saksena, Prof. (Mrs). Asmita Khajanchee.

The registrations for the seminar started at 9.30 AM and about 70  delegated registered for the Seminar including renowned women professionals viz. Medical experts, health professionals, doctors, engineers, technocrats, educationists, scientists, administrators, teachers, beauticians, media persons, social scientists and counselors. 12 full length papers were presented by the delegates.

SESSION one

INAUGURAL FUNCTION

The Inauguration function started in the Institute’s auditorium at 10.30 AM.  The program started with the worship of “The Goddess of Knowledge” Maa Saraswati as per Indian traditions. Floral welcome was offered to the Guests by the hosts.  The following significant activities took place during the inauguration.

• Prof. Mrs. Manjul Saxena, coordinator, welcomed the delegates, all the guests, and also presented a historical review of the Women Empowerment project and the activities related to this project through a power point presentation, which was very well appreciated by the audience.
• Dr. (Mrs.) Anju Banerjee, M.D., EdCIL, New Delhi, who was the “chief guest” of the function, cited the journey of Indian women from a traditional house wife till today’s educated and empowered professional women and the major challenges which women are facing today.
• Dr. (Mrs.) Shashi Rai renowned educationist who was the “guest of honor” presented her views regarding the seminar theme and analyzed the topic with reference to the today’s working women and balancing between the roles at home and at the work place.  .
• Prof. V.K. Agrawal, Director, NITTTR, Bhopal in his presidential address recited three poems eliciting the roles of a daughter, a wife and a mother in the family. He also Emphasized the changing role of women in the society in 21^st century. He criticized some of the electronic media for painting a very bad image of Indian women through serials where Indian woman are being projected as a “Khalnaika”. He reiterated the need of changing the mind set of our society towards women.

 Dr. Mrs. Kiran Saksena presented a vote of thanks.

 SESSION TWO:

 The first technical session of the seminar was scheduled to start at 10.30 a.m.  Dr. D. S. Karaulia was the chairperson for this session and Prof. Mrs. Susan S. Mathew was the rapporteur.

Dr. Shashi Rai was the first key speaker for the seminar. She emphasized the economic reasons for forcing women to come out of the four walls of the home and start working. But at the same time women have to shoulder the responsibilities of the home maker and care taker for their children. She also narrated the social, cultural, religious transformation taking place in the family and society and role of women in maintaining the inherited traditional values and norms of Indian society.

Dr. Sarla Menon, renowned Neuro Surgeon of the city presented her views on a very diverse topic “Unique Brand of Women Leadership” She described the salient characteristics of women leaders and gave very interesting concepts like “Glass ceiling” and other perceived barriers. The suggested the strategies and best practices for women to be effective leaders.

After both the presentations, there was an open session, where queries and questions were invited from the audience. Dr. D. S. Karaulia, chairperson, presented the mementoes to the key speakers; he summarized the papers very effectively and expressed his reactions on both the presentations.

 SESSION THREE

 The second technical session was scheduled in the post lunch session and started at 2.30 PM. In the beginning a film about the job opportunities available to women after completing the diploma / degree in technical education “Road to Success” was screened which was produced in the Institute as a part of women empowerment project.

  Dr. S.K. Saxena  was the chairperson for the session and Prof. Mrs. Chanchal Mehra was the rapporteur. Following papers were presented by the speakers.

• Dr S. S. Bhambhal, Prof & Ex-Head, Department Of Pediatrics, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, impressed the audience with the disparity between the health problems of females as compared to their male counterparts. She also suggested various measures to be taken to improve the position of our country in global perspective.
• Dr. Anupama Rawat, beautifully, depicted the role of Indian women in the cinema and media in the last few decades and the changes in her character as projected through electronic media
• Dr. Swati Lahiri, Scientist, Advanced Materials And Process Research Institute, Bhopal, presented her views on the changing role of women in social and economic scenario and their effect on family life.
• Dr. Gouri Joshi, ENT Surgeon, Reiki Grand Master, Yoga Expert And 

Pranic Healer from Pune, presented the science of REIKI as the healing device which helps to reduce stress and become balanced well to be cheerful all the time.

• Dr. Pragya Rawat, Professor of English, Benazeer College, emphasized on changing roles of modern professional women which has changed the face of society as well.

After  the presentations, there was a question answer session, where queries and questions were invited from the audience. Dr. Dr. S.K. Saxena , chairperson, presented the mementoes to the speakers and also  briefly summarized the presentations.

 SESSION FOUR

 The third technical session started at 4.00 PM.  Dr. V. H. Radhakrishnan was the chairperson for this session and Dr. Mrs. Kiran Saksena was the rapporteur. Following papers were presented by the speakers.

•  Dr Saroj Rangnekar, Professor , Department of Energy

, MANIT BHOPAL presented her paper on “Energy Conservation- Save Energy For Better Tomorrow” She posed the problems of Power shortage and power quality and tried to provide the solution in the form of rational use of energy and use of renewable energy sources. She also gave very important tips to save energy in house hold appliances.

•  Dr. Maitreyee Dutta and Dr. Swapna Devi from N.I.T.T.T.R. Chandigarh  addressed , today’s burning issue ,i.e. social security in informal sectors.
• Dr. Mamta Gaushinde, Social Scientist, Bhopal talked about  changing role of professional women  based on her recent study and portrayed a new picture altogether.
• Mrs. Manjusha Kedar emphasized the concept of being  presentable and well being of all women professionals and requested professional women to spare at least sometime for themselves too.
• Dr. Manisha Pathak and Dr, Ranjana Sharma stressed on all “Ss”- Swavlambi(self reliant),secured, Sajag (vigilant), and Saksham (empowered)
• Dr. Sunila Raja Sharma talked about aids and preventive measures to be adopted.

 After the presentations, there was an open session, and audience were encouraged to raise their queries, which were suitably responded to by the respective presenters. Dr. V. H. Radhakrishnan chairperson, briefly summarized the presentations and expressed the gratitude on behalf of the house by presenting the mementoes to the speakers.

 SESSION FIVE:

 VALEDICTORY PROGRAM

This program was  a landmark in the history of NITTTR, Bhopal ,for felicitating honorable Padmashree “Gulvardhan ji” for her contribution in the filed of theatre and traditional Belle dance. After the floral welcome the event was marked with the following activities:

• Prof. Mrs. Manjul Saxena, Coordinator,briefly reported the proceedings and recommendations of the seminar.
• Prof. (Dr.)  Vijay K. Agrawal, Director of the institute expressed the deep sense of gratitude towards Padmashree “Gulvardhaji” and appreciated her vigor in spite of her age. He also expressed happiness and joy over the success of the event and about the role of institution in fulfilling it’s social responsibility. 
• Some audio video glimpses and stage performances of Gulvardhaji  were presented. Her contribution was loudly praised by one and all present there.
•  Padmashree “Gulvardhanji” was felicitated by the chief guest Dr. Anju Banerjee and Prof. V. K. Agrawal.
• The Ashirvachan of the felicitated guest were although very few but could convey the message of blessings, happiness and sense of pride about the accomplishment.
• Dr. Anju Banerjee, the Chief guest, in her address emphasized the emerging roles of professional women in society and loudly applauded Ms Gulvardhanji’s contribution.
•  Vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. (Mrs.) Susan Mathew.
• The program ended with National Anthem.