One Day National Seminar on “Ki & Ka – Gender Equality and Sustainable Development” on Saturday 18th January, 2020
Mahatma Education Society’s Pillai College of Education and Research, Chembur in collaboration with SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sion and SIES Institute of Comprehensive Education conducted National Seminar on 18th January, 2020. The theme of the seminar was ‘Ki & Ka – Gender Equality and Sustainable Development’. Gender equality is a fundamental human right and is necessary for a peaceful and sustainable world. It is a pre-requisite for creating a healthy workspace and helps in building successful societies and economies. Goal 5 of SDGs aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women in the public and private spheres and to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources and access to ownership of property.
Dr. Uma Shankar, principal, SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce. spoke about the various roles of women in society. “Gender-equality is not a women issue, it’s a human issue”.
The keynote speaker, Ms. Meghana Ghai Puri, President of Whistling Woods International, shared her personal experience as a women entrepreneur. She urged the audience that the best people should handle responsibilities rather than differentiating being Men or Women. Ms. Puri believes that ‘true equality starts from the recognition that each individual is unique’.
Dr. Reni Francis, Principal MES’s Pillai College of Education and Research, Chembur introduced the seminar theme. She stressed the importance of recognising stereotyping in gender and giving opportunity to all. It is important as a young and dynamic generation to be resilient and face the challenges in a positive way, there is a need of fostering values among children thereby helping them to face the world in a more simplified manner.
The National Seminar opened the platform for a vibrant and thought provoking panel discussion on various aspects of Gender equality and sustainable development. The panel session began by Ketan Bhagwat, writer and motivational speaker who raise several questions on equality. “All men want women to be equal”.
Kiran Manral, popular author who shared that women from rural areas are deprived of opportunities, and women should support women.
Social entrepreneur, Ms. Elza D’Silva discussed about the harassment and micro-aggression at the work place and domestic front.
Panellist Vimla Nandakumar, Chairperson, Shakti- an afterschool program for girls, shared the success stories of girls from her organization.
Advocate. Neeta Kedia, who enlightened the audience on the importance of laws made for women. “Nation cannot progress with one gender, make your faith larger than your fear. Have knowledge of your rights”.
Dr. Vidhya Satish – Director, SIES Institute of Comprehensive Education, focussed on collaboration as the key for intellectual outreach and Gender equality as the burning issue in understanding the basic existence of mankind.
The views on spiritualism by Dr. Uma Shankar was really thought provoking and well appreciated by the participants. The valedictory address was given by Ms. Bina Pillai; writer addressed the burning issue of domestic violence towards women.
The Nation Seminar was a successful academic journey between the two institutions in realizing its objectives.
