IT News
Imphal, May 19,
Two-day national seminar on “Women Empowerment and Human Rights with special reference to North East” is being underway at Manipur University. The seminar which begins yesterday is organized by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India in collaboration with Manipur University.
Mrs. Jyotika Kalra, Member, NHRC, Dr. Muni Dev Singh Tyagi, Joint Director, NHRC and Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University graced the inaugural function as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and President respectively.
Prof. N. Lokendra Singh, Dean, School of Social Sciences and Director, Centre for Human Rights & Duties Edn. Manipur University proposed the Welcome Address. He accorded warm welcome to all the dignitaries who came from outside for the seminar and extended the same all the participants.
Speaking on the occasion Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University, said, “Empowerment means self confidence. Not a power over others through weapons or other means but greater self confidence, and an inner transformation of one’s consciousness that enables one to overcome external barriers”. If a woman is empowered, the entire family gets empowered and the societies as well for women always have deliberate roles to play in the society, he added. Professor cited the ‘Ema Market’ (mothers’ market) of Manipur, one of the world’s largest women run market, as an epitome of women empowerment.
It is not only the responsibilities of the government to achieve the target of women empowerment, the collective support and responsibility of each individual will facilitate in the progress work of women empowerment. It is significant to provide women with every possible support and supervision to become progressive, said professor while asserting that this seminar will throw some light in achieving it.
Dr. S.K. Shukla delivered the introductory speech of the seminar. She started her speech with the remark, “India is a Guldasta (bouquet),” and Indian society is a multicultural and multifaceted country. Rights are given to each and every citizen. We need to create awareness about human rights and it will be more impactful if we propagate through our mother tongue.
Addressing at the function, Dr. Muni Dev Singh Tyagi asserted that we are not achieving the women empowerment to the level we desire. She called for a radical shift of our focus on how empowerment should happen and to draw roadmaps to achieve it. The status of North East women is comparatively better than other parts of the country, said Tyagi while alarming, at the same time, the increase rate of domestic violence in this region. Whenever there is any conflict, women and children are the most vulnerable. Women have to organize themselves such as women’s groups to reinforce development and mobilize their own women empowerment movement.
Addressing at the function, Dr. Jyotika Kalra made an apt statement, “Alone I can’t but together we can”. North East region is a role model for women in terms of literary and economic development, she said. Within the household, women provide all kinds of services to their families while men are incapable to serve themselves which women think it as their achievement. She said women of China are active and progressive so are the women of Bangladesh who work actively for the country’s economy. She further added that keeping women in the confinement of homes will not achieve anything.
Second session of the seminar is being underway today. It will conclude today.
