The Regional Central Coalfields limited (CCl), the Miniratna PSU of the Government of India, hosted the Regional Meet of the Eastern region Chapter of the Forum for Women in Public Sector (WIPS) under the aegis of the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE). The conference was attended by about 400 women working in different PSUs from the eastern region and dignitaries from various organizations at the Jawahar Nagar Club at Kanke Road today.
The programme was inaugurated by Mridula Sinha, Principal secretary, labour and employment training and skill development department; Pramila Singh, wife of Chairman and Managing Director, CCl, Gopal Singh; Amita Saha, President, WIPS, Regional Eastern Board, Sanchita Banerjee Secretary, WIPS, Regional Eastern Board, Rekha Singh coordinator, WIPS, CCl, AV Krishna Director, Marketing, HEC. Mridula Sinha graced the meet as the speaker and gave deliberations on the theme of the Regional Meet – ‘Together for a safe childhood’.
Addressing the gathering on the theme, Sinha touched crucial issues of childhood that each and every girl child has to undergo and how such grave issues go unheard. “We should all become quite aware of the various issues girls have to face in their childhood because even lewd comments can pose serious issues of damaging a girl’s personality in the future. We should strive to ensure no children should be dragged into working as bonded labours at various places and even at houses. In fact, it is each and everyone’s duty to encourage poor children to attend school because education is the only way out,” said Sinha.
She stressed on the urgent need to educate women, empower them by proper training and skill development workshops at all levels. “Each woman has immense strength and we should all enjoy our womanhood and not shy away from being labeled as anything but an equal. We should not stop ourselves from venturing into the unknown and working hard. Anti-social elements and people who discourage and harass women are found everywhere but education and honing your skills will make you virtuous, educated and financially stronger. Girls are insecure even before they are born and vulnerable to emotional and physical abuse. But, we have to stand as united and spread more and more awareness in order to make this nation a developed one,” added Sinha.
RS Mohapatra, Director (Personnel) CCl in his address reiterated the spirit of the mood and also applauded the achievements by women in the corporate world. “We are extremely proud to congratulate all the women achievers who are leaders and have gained this position in the competitive corporate world on the basis of their talent and leadership skills,” said Mohapatra.
Amita Saha, in her speech talked about the societal issues that young girls and married women have to face on a regular basis. “Working is not easy for women and surviving in the corporate world not easy. But, that should not stop any woman from restricting herself from working. Young girls are advised not to step out of the house and married women are beaten up by the torturous husbands and in-laws for working in most cases. But, this scenario can only change if we want to bring in the same. let’s spread education and awareness among poor young girls and make way for a brighter future,” said Saha.
Panel discussion on ‘Together for a safe childhood’ was followed by felicitation ceremony wherein all dignitaries present were awarded souvenirs. The First Prize for ‘Best Enterprise Award’ in Maharatna and Navratna category was awarded to Oil India whereas the second prize was awarded to Indian Oil. The First prize for ‘Best Enterprise Award’ in the Miniratna category was awarded to CCl while the second and the third prizes were awarded to BCCl and ECl consecutively. The award ceremony and the felicitation programme were followed by a cultural event wherein blind students from St. Michael’s Blind School performed a melodious song.