Kurukshetra,(Rana). Chairperson of Haryana State Women’s Commission, Panchkula, Mrs. Renu Bhatia has said that women need to be empowered rather than seek sympathy of others. If women empower and strengthen themselves, they will be able to face every challenge of life. She was speaking as the chief guest at a one-day workshop on ‘Awareness of Sexual Harassment in Higher Educational Institutions’ organized by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Kurukshetra University under the joint aegis of Haryana Women Commission, Panchkula, in the Senate Hall of Kurukshetra University on Thursday.
Bhatia said that women should empower themselves and not expect sympathy. There is a need to change the society’s attitude towards women because sexual exploitation will not end until the negative thinking towards women does not end. Under the awareness campaign, Haryana Women Commission is conducting awareness programs regarding women’s rights and duties in schools, colleges and universities. Giving examples from her own life, Bhatia talked about women empowerment through life management.
She said that to curb crimes against women, they should immediately report to the Women’s Commission. Along with this, she talked about constituting ICC committees in universities and colleges. Earlier Mrs. Renu Bhatia inaugurated an exhibition in the KU Crush Hall depicting slogans written by students of KU.
Presiding over the program, KU Vice Chancellor Prof. Som Nath Sachdeva said that at present women have set new records in science, space, education and sports, army, NSS and other fields. He said that 55 percent girls are studying in Kurukshetra University while 13 out of 25 hostels are earmarked for girls. Along with this, Prof. Som Nath said that there is a need to change our thinking about women and discrimination against women should stop from one’s own home.
Keynote speaker, Prof. Shalini Singh, Department of Psychology Maharishi Dayanand University said women are not able to complain about sexual harassment due to social shame, lack of information, mistrust, hopelessness, helpless condition and because their self-esteem. They need to be empowered to overcome these hurdles. Director of Internal Complaint Committee of KU Prof. Sunita Siroha welcomed all the guests and explained in detail about the activities of the Internal Complaint Committee. The stage was moderated by Prof. Vanita Dhingra.
On this occasion Prof. Sunita Siroha, Prof. Neelam Dhanda, Prof. Amit Ludri, Prof. Ram Niwas, Prof. Vanita Dhingra, Prof. Shuchismita, Prof. Neera Raghav, Dr. Ankeshwar Prakash, Dr. Vikram and representatives of various colleges, teachers and students were present.
