ICAR-CIWA celebrates international women's week during 2nd - 8th march, 2020

ICAR- Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA), Bhubaneswar celebrated International Women's Day from 2nd March, 2020 to 8th March, 2020. On this occasion, several activities were conducted in ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar as well as 13 centres of AICRP on Home Science spread across 12 states of India to create awareness on this year’s theme “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”.
During these activities the focus was on 12 critical areas of concern committed during the Beijing Platform for Action. On 2nd March 2020, a discussion on the 12 critical areas was conducted in which all the staff of ICAR-CIWA participated. In the ensuing days Slogan writing, elocution, poster making, essay writing etc were conducted on Women and the environment, Women in power and decision-making, the girl child, Women and the economy, Women and poverty, Violence against women, Human rights of women, Education and training of women, Institutional mechanisms or the advancement of women, Women and health, Women and the media, Women and armed conflict etc. The staff of ICAR- CIWA , AICRP, students and farm women participated enthusiastically in them.
On 8th March 2020, the morning session began with the invocation of ICAR Song. Dr. Tanuja S, Nodal Officer, delivered welcome address and briefed about the importance of the occasion. She also presented the report of weeklong celebration in the institute and AICRP centers. A slideshow of the programmes conducted during the week was arranged for the benefit of the audience.
Dr S. K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA delivered the presidential address. He remembered the past women directors of the institute who have contributed tremendously for taking this institute forward. He also emphasised the importance placed on the women from time immemorial in the Indian culture.
Mrs. Pranati Das, Team Leader, UNDP Rural Housing Project was the Chief Guest. She congratulated ICAR-CIWA to be the only institute working for women in agriculture. But she also insisted the need for proper dissemination of technology as in the present scenario the benefits of the technology are skewed in men’s direction. She also shared her experience of working with rural women under UNDP projects. The programme was attended by Staff of ICAR- CIWA.
A lecture on “Work life balance: a win-win situation for employees and organisations” was delivered by Dr. Bijay Kumar Swain (Retd.) Professor & Head, Centre for Rural Credit & Development Banking, National Institute of Rural Development Hyderabad. A lecture on the “Importance of meditation in relieving stress” was delivered by Sister B K Hiroj, Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Viswavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar. The programme was concluded by vote of thanks proposed by Er. Chaitrali S. Mhatre.
The successful organization of the International Women's Day celebration was done by the following committee, Dr. Tanuja Somrajan, Nodal Officer; Er. Chaitrali Mhatre Co-nodal officer, Er. Pragati Kumar Rout, Member.