Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 (Agency) Noting that new generation is the change makers who can redefine the status of women in society, Thiruvananthapuram District Collector Dr Navjot Khosa on Friday said economic freedom plays the most crucial role in women’s empowerment in the current world. Delivering the keynote address at the awareness programme organised as part of the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) activities by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) at its campus here, Dr Khosa said while making them financially independent it is important to ensure that they get opportunities to fulfil their true potential. RGCB has been selected as one of the major institutions across the country to promote gender equity in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) as part of GATI, a release said.
Citing her journey to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) after graduating in Medicine, she said the right focus, determination and good mental health can help a woman attain success in her profession. Delivering the keynote address in another session in the afternoon, Dr Divya S Iyer, District Collector, Pathanamthitta, said since gender discrimination begins from childhood, families are the fundamental units of gender transformation in our society. RGCB Director Prof Chandrabhas Narayana, in his welcome address, said even as participation of women in education sector is on the rise, their representation in jobs in other key sectors is yet to match their educational advancement.
Prof Narayana said GATI is being implemented after the government as well as policy makers realised that institutions need to wake up rather than the individuals to address the issue. “I feel very strongly that we need to actually empower the environment for women so that they do not get any special considerations for vying with their counterparts and they will be able to perform unbiased way. GATI needs to be implemented in that passion,” he said. An autonomous institution of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, RGCB figures among 30 institutions of higher education and research selected by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to implement the innovative programme, which aims at addressing the systematic and cultural barriers to women’s academic and professional advancement at all levels across multiple STEMM disciplines. A debate on “Gender Equal Opportunities: A Myth or Reality” was also held. Prizes were given away to winners of essay writing competitions organised as part of the event. RGCB GATI Programme Nodal Officer Dr. Devasena Anantharaman spoke on the roadmap of the project.