Jammu March 16:(KNS) The Department of Students Welfare, Cluster University of Jammu hosted an Award Ceremony of Hackathon on Women Peace Building Agency thereby commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence in collaboration with Yakjah International under the patronage of Prof. Bechan Lal , Vice Chancellor, CLUJ. The Award function was a prelude to workshops organised by the Department in March 2020 and subsequently in December 2020 wherein the students of PGI Schools, CLUJ and Law School, Jammu University participated.
Prof. Bhopinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs , CLUJ was the Guest of Honor at the Ceremony. He lauded the efforts of the Department of Students Welfare in organising a women peace building activity and acknowledging women’s contribution in 75 years of India’s Independence as it would motivate the young learners to envision a gender neutral society wherein both the men and women can play a productive role towards nation building. He also stressed on the fact that women have been instrumental in the Azadi struggle and even post independence to ensure harmony at multiple quarters. Prof. Renu Nanda, Dean Faculty of Education, an eminent academician and social activist, Jammu University was the Special Invitee at the event. She congratulated the organizers and participants for insightful deliberations which shall educate and enable the youth to engage with issues related to women and peace . She appreciated the potent views of the student speakers highlighting the contribution of women towards 75 years of India’s Independence and reiterated the young learners to follow the Gandhian gospel of peace towards creating a humane world order.
Dr. Twinkle Suri, Dean Students Welfare, in her welcome address stressed that success stories of women of strength need to be cherished and celebrated and their pivotal role in scripting chapter of peace needs to be understood to nurture a generation which is socially sensitized, ethically responsible and also committed and progressive. She opined that women’s participation makes peace more durable because with their input, agreements go beyond the realm of power to the realities of people.
Ms. Ashima Koul, Managing Director and Founder Yakjah, Reconcilliation and Development Network, emphasized that the motive of the Hackathon was to recognize the role of Women Peace Builders in strategizing for peace and reconstructing societies to rebuild social structure, institutions and relationships by educating and enabling the youth to engage with issues related with women, peace and security. Ms. Garima Dutt , Media Consultant and renowned Journalist gave an overview of the workshop and encouraged the youth to take leadership in promoting women’s inclusion at all levels of decision making and also celebrate women’s role and participation in building peace as we celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence. About 10 student participants also shared their diverse and rich experiences on the immense contribution of women in India’s struggle for Independence and their subsequent achievements in varied fields. They focused on women’s role in nation building as we are heralding towards 75 years of India’s Independence and asserted that women’s inclusion in peace building processes is essential for long drawn success as a gender equal participation contributes to longer and lasting peace. Despite strong evidence in favour of their inclusion, women remain largely invisible and sidelined from formal peace negotiations. The narratives portray them as vulnerable victims failing to acknowledge their crucial role to bridge deep divides and mend their communities.
Dr. Rajneesh Khajuria from Law School and Dr. Sapna Sangra, Department of Sociology, Jammu University also graced the ceremony. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Banpreet Kour, Associate Dean, Students Welfare, CLUJ. Dr. Kuldeep Raina, Cultural Coordinator, CLUJ and Assistant Deans, Dr. Geetanjli Rajput, , Dr. Maansi Sharma, Prof. Sudesh Kumar and Prof. Shamim Rather were present on the occasion. Dr. Revika Arora, Cultural Coordinator, Students Welfare, CLUJ gave a formal vote of thanks.(KNS)