Both women and men should shoulder the responsibility of building a peaceful, constructive and prosperous society. From time immemorial, our society has placed women at a high pedestal and there is no need for doing anything more to empower her.
They need a bit of physical protection and should be made financially independent, opined most speakers at a State-level seminar on “ Women Empowerment and Role of Media” organised jointly by Paschimanchal newspaper, Women in Public Sector (WIPS), MCl forum and Goodwill Educational and Charitable Trust here on Sunday.
The seminar was inaugurated by MCl Director (Personnel) Purna Chandra Panigrahi. He called upon the women to realise their power within. He also launched maiden product of GECT for school going children. The inaugural session was followed by an interaction session with a panel of speakers. The session was moderated by former Additional Director General of Prasar Bharati Abhaya Padhy.
The speakers included Ratan Pani and Sai Prasan from the media along with former Vice-Chancellor of University of Culture Prof Sadhu Charan Panda, former professor of English Jatin Mund and former member, Odisha Women Commission Namrata Chadha. Chadha said that media was found most often highlighting the negative aspect of women and was projecting the girls and women as responsible in any rape incident and not showing how the rapists tortured the girls and committed the crime. “Media should be sensible in reporting the rape cases,” she advised.
Sai Prasan said that the family, society and Government should focus on the health and education of the girl children in Odisha. “Women should be given vocational and professional training to make them financially independent,” he opined.
Paschimanchala Editor Surama Mishra said that both women and men should work together for having a happy family and a constructive society. Among others, the inaugural function was addressed by Jagruti Mahila Mandal president Anju Sahay, Goodwill Educational and Charitable Trust chairperson Geetika Mishra, Padhy and Chadha. WIPS coordinator Dr Aparna Mukherjee welcomed the gathering. Kosal Horizon Editor Baidyanath Mishra presided.
The seminar which coincided with the National Press Day was dedicated to Sister Nibedita who played a significant role in women empowerment in India along with Swami Vivekananda.