WOMEN’S DAY OBSERVED AT GOVT. MODEL COLLEGE, BORKHOLA

An informative guest lecture was organized by the Women’s Cell in collaboration with NSS and IQAC at Govt. Model College, Borkhola, Cachar on 6^th March, 2023 to celebrate the eve of Women’s day. In the event, a renowned academician from the Department of Economics, Assam University, Dr. Sagarika Dey delivered her guest lecture on the topic “Women Empowerment: Problems and Prospects”. At the very outset, the student anchor Miss Nasira Ferduse Barbhuiya from BA 2^nd Semester gave a briefing on International Women’s Day following which Miss Suroshikha Debnath, program convenor cum Co-ordinator, Women’s Cell delivered her welcome speech. Miss Debnath highlighted the role of women in standing up for each other and the issues of early marriage among the girl students of the college owing to a conservative home environment. Then the felicitation ceremony took place where the resource person was honoured with a uttoriyo and a small token by the Vice Principal Dr. Baharul Alom Laskar and Dr. Ruposhree Paul, Assistant Prof. and Head, Dept. of Education. Two students from BA 4^th semester also performed a Hindi motivational song on women empowerment which set the tone of the event in the right way. This was followed by the inspirational speeches of the Vice Principal Dr. Laskar and the IQAC co-ordinator Dr. Mofidur Rahman. Both of them discussed the role of women in society and the need for a change in gender injustice. Miss Usha Kumari Shah, Assistant Prof., Dept. of English then gave a brief introduction of the invited guest after which the lecture began. Dr. Sagarika Dey pointed out the economic discriminations meted out to women in a patriarchal society. She explained how women education, empowerment is a must both from the angles of human rights and the increase of labour force in the country to increase the GDP. She also elaborated on the need to implement some radical ideas on gender equality put forward by the great Economist Amartya Sen. During her interaction with the students she made the girls aware of their decision making power and the boys aware of the need to be empowered through attitudinal changes. Following the talk, the NSS co-ordinator Dr. Md. Shalim M. Hussain put forward some valuable observations and suggestions like that of identifying and empowering the women self-help groups nearby college. The closure of the event was marked by his vote of thanks after a short interactive session with students. A good number of students, guardian representative and faculty members from all the departments were actively present in the program. Besides being an illuminating and motivational guest lecture, it also served as an awareness extension program on women empowerment.