Patna: A workshop on gender parity and inclusion was organised by the Department of History at Patna Women’s College on Wednesday as part of the Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives under Pradhan Mantri Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyaan (PM-USHA), bringing together students and faculty to discuss issues of gender justice and equality.
The programme was held at the BJ Sullivan Hall of the college and saw participation from several institutions affiliated with Patna University.
The workshop was conducted in two sessions. The first session, which began at 10am, featured Prof Dr Shefali Roy, dean of the faculty of social sciences and former head of the department of political science at Patna University. The session opened with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, after which Roy was welcomed with a plant sapling and shawl by Sister Celine Crasta, head of the department of history and cultural coordinator at Patna Women’s College.
Speaking on the theme “Gender Justice: Myth or Reality”, Roy highlighted the continuing discrimination faced by different genders in society and discussed how social roles and responsibilities are often defined along gender lines. She said that despite progress in awareness, gaps remain in achieving genuine gender justice.
The talk was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session in which students raised queries on gender equality and social perceptions. At the end of the session, Crasta presented Roy with a memento as a token of appreciation.
After a short break, the workshop resumed with a second session led by Reshma Prasad, a transgender social activist, poet and writer. She was welcomed by Crasta with a plant sapling and shawl.
Prasad spoke on “Gender Parity”, focusing on the distinction between gender and sex, and the importance of recognising diverse gender identities and expressions. Students participated in a discussion with the speaker during a subsequent question-and-answer round.
The event concluded with Prasad being felicitated with a memento by Crasta. The programme was moderated by Adya and Parnoshree, undergraduate students of semester VI, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Sewanjali, also a semester VI student.
The workshop was organised under the supervision of Sister Celine Crasta, with faculty members of the department of history contributing to the event’s coordination.
