Ganderbal, Mar 8: To commemorate International Women’s Day, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) in association with United Kingdom-India Edu and Research Initiative (UKIERI) and Voice For Peace and Justice (VFPJ) organized a function “Honour For Women,” at Manasbal here on Tuesday.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Finance Officer, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka, VFPJ, Chairman, Mr. Farooq Ganderbali, senior university functionaries, faculty members, research scholars and students were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah said, the gender equity leads to gender equality which results in women empowerment and sustainable development of the gender. Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah said, this year’s theme is about “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” CUK Vice Chancellor, said, scores of women currently make living in the informal economy with limited access to social protection, public services and infrastructure that could increase their productivity and income security. He said the purpose of celebrating the Day is to highlight and recognise the contributions of women in the society and raise awareness about gender equality.
Addressing the gathering, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar said, that women play an important role in the overall development of the society. “During contemporary times, women are working shoulder to shoulder with men in every sphere of life and are also managing their household. They have ventured into the professions, which were earlier considered to be dominated by the males,” Prof. M Afzal Zargar said. He further said, that women do more unpaid care and domestic work than men, with very few mothers with new borns, receiving proper maternity benefits. “Women are likely to face violence in their lifetimes, yet public services, urban planning and transport systems are rarely planned with women’s safety and mobility in mind.”
Addressing the gathering, Finance Officer, Prof. Fayaz Ahmad Nikka, said, the Women’s Day, in all its endeavours, seeks to give women equal opportunity and status in the society. Highlighting the contributions made by females in different professions, Prof. Nikka said the women are marching ahead in all the fields, particularly education, and several of them are heading the institutions and organizations, both private and public, effectively. He said the emerging global concern is that despite a lot of progress and development on all fronts, change has been slow for majority of women. “Women continue to be underpaid, and violence against them is growing at an alarming rate.”
WEC chairperson, Prof. Parveen Pandit in her address highlighted unaddressed issues about women, motivated gathering to take active part in challenging the stereotypes and taboos, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievement. Prof. Parveen Pandit highlighted the plight of women in current scenario and deliberated on the historical perspective of gender equality and women oppression.
In his address, VFPJ, Chairman, Mr. Farooq Ganderbali, said, the women stand empowered in a civilized society. “Islam gave due status to the women.” However, he said that there are certain areas wherein we have to define different parameters of equality adding that both men and women have to understand their proper roles in order to maintain the social order. Several women and girls who excelled in their fields also addressed the gathering. Ms Shaheen Mahajan conducted the programme proceedings.