By the virtue of my association with Project Nandini, the social cause project driven by the Smt Nandini Satpathy Memorial Trust (SNSMT), I have had the privilege of interacting, teaching and learning from a wide-range of women groups. They range from illiterate poor women who barely can fetch a meal for themselves residing in remote hamlets in the most backward State of Odisha to the most highly educated, well-to-do, independent women groups with the most happening global addresses to boast of. ‘Project Nandini’ has provided me with the opportunities of the most deep life learning from the kinds of the first and at times has also made me learn about shallowness from the later kinds.
‘Nandini’ is a Sanskrit word which means daughter. ‘Project Nandini’ was launched on the National Daughters Day (Nandini Diwas) on June 9 in 2007 by the then Governor late Rameshwar Thakur. Ever since, works for the betterment of women is on. For an effective working pattern the project was divided into four aspects of a woman’s life. 1) 'Nandini' is a new born girl child 2) 'Nandini' is an adolescent girl 3) 'Nandini' is a young woman and 4) 'Nandini' is a senior citizen.
‘Project Nandini’ not only talks about the sordid tale of India’s daughter but also relates the power of this daughter with the aegis from history to moon. This project is to capture the minds of imagination and the age of transformation that decides the fate of tomorrow. Based on the teachings of late Nandini Satpathy, Project ‘Nandini’ revolves around the fact that the socio-economic-cultural-political ascend or descend depends on ‘women’.
‘Project Nandini’ schedules moral and social development, It makes community betterment the fundamental part of its curriculum by developing social consciousness and self confidence, making winners out of ordinary women by applying learning-based on research and real experiences. The project also enhances entrepreneurial qualities to achieve self reliance. ‘Project Nandini’ focuses on various programmes like skill building programmes, vocational programmes, special talent development programmes and community participation programmes.
A speech by late Satpathy went like this, “I am a person, treat me that way and not with pity for being a woman in a man’s world. Bring on anything that you men can do, all I will do is better it, cause if not superior, I am no inferior to any man”. I was raised by my legendary grandmother by the virtue of the same; I very well recognize many obstacles that women face in their careers and daily lives. To secure a better tomorrow we must pledge to free the power and potential of ‘women’ who comprise half the world. On this International Day for Women my salutation is not just for all women but to each one of ‘YOU’, because your existence actualised in a ‘Woman’.
(This article is authored by SNSMT chairman Suparno Satpathy. More on the author is available at www.SuparnoSatpathy.in)