Women's Studies Centre (WSC)

UGC sponsored Women’s Studies Centre
(Estd 2004)
Directors: Dr Suhasini Asokan and Prof Sonia Varandani

The UGC sponsored Women’s Studies Centre of the College was established in the year 2004, with the untiring efforts of Principal Dinesh Panjwani and its activities got off to a dynamic start with the organisation of the Inaugural National Conference on Progression: Emerging Issues in Women’s Development, which attracted participation from all over India and which set the tone and blueprint for the activities of the Centre. The progression set in motion reached its zenith in the International Conference organised by the Centre in September 2007, in association with the Department of Adult and Continuing Education of the University of Mumbai, on the very relevant theme of Empowerment of Women through Adult Education. This Conference attracted participation from all over India, and 14 other countries, including UK, USA, UAE, Mauritius, Iran and Israel among others.

The WSC works with a specific Vision and Mission which has been defined in the Proposal that was sent to the University Grants Commission in 2003:

Vision

“Development of the social personality of students along with their academic growth through real time Community Based Rehabilitation that can be documented for posterity”.

Mission Statement

“To undertake studies on such issues that are contemporary and time relevant and need to be explored for improving status of Women under study with the aim of developing intervention needed, as per outcome of the studies”.

Objectives

  1. To undertake studies through amalgamation and community service, on such issues that are contemporary and time relevant and needed to be explored, for improving the status of women.
  2. To develop the interventions formulated during studies into a sustainable community Welfare Programmes that are implemented through the community networks created during the Studies.

The major thrust areas of the WSC have been Education and Healthcare, based on a holistic approach to gender issues involving family, community and society. and its major activities have been worked out within the framework of the following three initiatives:

  1. Intervention Adult Education Project (AEP) – Project Coordinator: Prof S S Kapse
    a) Academic resources were created on all lecture courses and workshops modules during studies
    b) This programme initiated for Ulhasnagar city in 2004, has today extended its reach
    and enrollment to 121 locations of the CNEE created in Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Badlapur,Karjat, Pune, Bhivandi, Mumbai and Thane.
    c) The WSC fully sponsors the two Control groups of not more than 200 women, annually for this study through the funds generated from community network and Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation.
    d) A total of 396 women were fully sponsored for the PE since 2005, of which 302 appeared for examination and 290 cleared it giving passing percentage of 96.02 %
    e) Equally strong today is non sponsored group of AEP which is self financing for preparatory Examination. However, other activities of the AEP are extended to them along with the control group of the AE of the YCMOU.
    f) As a part of gender Sensitization exercise, 65 meetings were conducted at community locations,04 Surveys were carried out, 21 training workshops and 16 lecture series, one poster and logo competition, 03 excursion of control Group of AEP to the places of historical importance such as Mani Bhavan , Central Library, UOM,YCMOU etc. and documentary film competition was organized
  2. Childhood to Motherhood – Project Coordinator: Prof Prema Gurbuxani
    a) Academic resources were created on all lecture courses and Workshops modules during studies.
    b) 03 batches of school teachers for three phase YOGA training, drawn from 41 schools under UMC jurisdiction. These teachers ,after receiving training , imparted yoga training to the Girl students of their schools.
    c) 03 batches of college students on YOG theory and practice selected for Yoga team. These students imparted YOG practice to the members of YOG society.
    d) 41 sessions were conducted in the municipal schools on the Best practices for self health care for Girls aged 4 to 14
    e) 22 sessions were conducted in the college and for the female kin Municipal School children on the best practices for self Health care for girls aged from 15 to 22.
    f) 12 sessions were conducted for mothers and female kin of college students and municipal school children on self health care by mothers and other women’s health issues.
    g) 06 sessions were conducted on Pre- marriage Counseling for Third year girl students of Smt. CHM college.
    h) As a part of the Gender Sensitization exercise with emphasison Women Heath issues, 16 meetings were conducted at schools and colleges and their Parents, and in rural locations.
    i) 07 surveys on health, education and mental health issues were carried by the centre with girl students of school and colleges that culminated in orientation lectures.
    j) The project “ Childhood to Motherhood” also resulted in the formation of an independent Yoga society in the college, where 1000 students registered and provided with basic training in Yoga practices for the maintenance of good Health.
  3. Conferences
    a) National conference attracted 52 participants from all over Maharashtra and 03 from other states. It represents 04 universities.
    b) International conference attracted 192 participants, 19 eminent guests and 42 research papers, of which 06 from foreign universities and Institutes, 15 from the other states of India and 21 from Maharashtra.

Since its inception, the Office Bearers of the WSC have been as follows:

President:
Principal Dinesh Panjwani (2004 to August 2009)
Dr Milind Vaidya (September 2009 onwards)
(The Principal of the College is the ex-officio president of the WSC. Principal Panjwani is on lien for two years since he has joined R D National College as Principal and Dr Milind Vaidya, The In-Charge Principal is now the President of the WSC)

Directors:
Prof Aarti Pasarkar (2004 to 2006)
Dr Charanjeet Kaur (2006-2008)
Dr Savitsmita Chavan (October 2008 to December 2008)
Dr Suhasini Asokan (January 2009 onwards)
Prof Sonia Varandani (October 2008 onwards)

Advisors:
Prof Aarti Pasarkar (2006 to 2008)
Dr Charanjeet Kaur (2008 onwards)

Project Coordinators:
Prof S S Kapse: Adult Education Programme
Prof Prema Gurbuxani: Yoga Programmes

Core Faculty:
Prof Vasanti Beltangaddy (2004 to 2005)
Ms Bhakti Gore (2005 to 2006)
Prof Sucheta Gandhi (2006 to 2007)
Ms Vasuda Kadam ( 2007 onwards)

Office Assistants:
Ms Smita Kapse (2004 to 2007)
Ms Sarika Hoskar (2007 to 2008)
Ms Deepika Patil (2009 onwards)

In addition, the WSC has a duly constituted Board of studies and an Advisory Committee, as per the norms of the X and XI year plans.

The WSC has been fortunate in its mentors who have paved the way with their motivation and insights:
Dr Rajashekheran Pillai, currently the Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, and an academic administrator who has consistently striven for the cause of Higher Education in India in all the high profile assignments he has handled with distinction in his versatile career;
Dr Snehalata Deshmukh, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, eminent paediatric surgeon and Dhanwantri Award winner who has set bench marks in her sensitivity to women’s issues and who is till today engaged in generating awareness about the girl child and the problem of female foeticide;
Dr Rajan Welukar, former Vice Chancellor of YCMOU, eminent Scholar and Administrator who has been closely associated with the growth of the Centre and the College. His role has been instrumental in the success of the AEP in association with the YCMOU.
Dr Naresh Chandra: Principal of Birla College and former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. His unstinting support in all our activities has been a constant source of inspiration.

The Centre has attracted a galaxy of academicians and field workers in women’s issues from various organisations like the American Centre, Mumbai, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, Ambarnath, Badlapur and Karjat Municipal Councils, Kaivalyadhama, Departmrnt of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension, University of Mumbai, YCMOU, the WDC of the University of Mumbai, NGOs like Media Matters, Ambarnath and Akshara, Mumbai, Giants international group of Kalyan Metro, among others.

A brief year wise account of the activities of the WSC is presented below:

2004-05

  1. Workshop for teachers on “Improving Interpersonal Relationships at work place and home”
  2. Three Day Inaugural National Conference on “Progression: Emerging Issues in Women Development.”

2005-06

  1. Survey on Adjustment Problems in Girls at the first year of their College Education
  2. Health Survey of Mothers of Girls studying in schools of Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation. under the project Childhood to motherhood
  3. Three phase Yoga Training programme for UMC school Teachers ( Batch I and II)
  4. Adult Education Drive for Mothers of Girls studying in
    UMC schools
  5. Yoga Training Programme for girls in UMC schools, (Provided by teachers who have been Trained in Batch I.)
  6. Survey of in-service up gradation of UMC school teachers

2006-07

  1. Published the first issue of the Newsletter, Swar
  2. Logo Competition on “Empowerment of Women in the Indian Context” for College Students
  3. The first wallpapers ‘Prayas’ put up by team of students. It focused on 1Women Freedom Fighters
    • Information of WSC
    • Articles on Women issues.

      • The Second Wallpapers, focused on ‘Education for Women’.
  4. Health Survey for students of FYBA, BCOM & FYBSC Classes, by SYBCOM students and under the guidance of Dr.S.S. Namboothiry and Dr. Aruna Rai of Botany Dept Has been prepared.
  5. A Booklet on ‘Health Habits for Teen’ has been designed on the basis of the report of “ “Health Survey”
  6. A Survey on education Level of parents of students of FYBA & FYBCOM classes
  7. Three meetings were conducted with parents of AEP students to motivate them and formed a third batch of PEP.
  8. Vocational training on “Candle Making” for the students of CHM College. (Two batches)
  9. A talk on “Vocational Training in Garment Business Mgt” By a Fashion designer, Suresh Chandra Kopra.
  10. Workshop on ‘ Women’s Empowerment – Thought and Practice” jointly with GSC of CHM, for elected Women Representatives of Ulhasnagar, Badlapur, Ambernath Municipal Corporators and Karjat Municipal Council
  11. Organized a film festival on ‘Violence Against Women’ in collaborations with Akshara –a Mumbai based and jointly with NSS.for student from Birla College and Pendharkar College
  12. Two more films were shown:
    a. A Women’s Place by Poromita Vohara
    b. Sapney.
  13. One Day Workshop On “Empowerment of Women Tools & Strategies” jointly GSC.
  14. On 11th Feb 2007 WSC has conducted a social & Education Awareness of AEP group of YCMOU.

2007-08

  1. Two day International Conference on
    “Women Empowerment Through Adult Education”.
  2. A week Long programme on
    “Pathways to empowerment : Human Right and Women’s
    Empowerment”
    • 10th Dec2007- Convergences.
    • 11th Des2007- Moving images.
    • 12th Dec2007- Song of My self
    • 13th Dec2007- the Inner Voice.
    • 14th Dec2007- Know Gandhi More
    • 15th Dec2007- Humanscapes/ Womenscapes
    • 17th Dec2007- Emerging voices

2008-2009

  1. One day Workshop on “Wisdom of Empowerment” for HOD of UMC.
  2. A session on SWOT analysis for TYBA Students
  3. Essay Competition was organized on of the following topics:
    i . An Educated Women is an asset to society
    ii. Developing Self-Esteem in Women
    iii. Women as leaders in a democratic society
  4. A Discussion organized Studies center and in collaboration with teachers for India and the American Center, Mumbai.
  5. Three Days Workshop on ‘Rangoli” for AEP and SCHM college students
  6. A seminar on “ Project Supervision” was arranged for the SCHM teachers and students who were involved in Survey “Clean Ulhasnagar-Healthy Ulhasnagar. Ms. Ann Rumpus, Head Educational Initiative Centre, University of Westminster, UK and Ms. Sibyl Coldham, Director, centre of Excellence in professional learning from the workplace, University of Westminster, UK, were resource persons at the workshop
  7. An Intercollegiate Workshop on “Gender Sensitizatio for SY and TY BA students
  8. A workshop on AIDS/HIV for Computer science students
  9. A stall on Hand made candles, “HASTKALA” was placed during Chandi Utsav.
  10. “Bhajan Prabhat” was organized to seek blessing and good wishes from God Almighty for Healthy and prosperous New Year of CHM family. The students of SCHM family sang the glory of God in different languages
  11. “SPANDAN” a weeklong programme from to mark INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.
    The various activities under SPANDAN were
    Talk on ‘ Women’s Issues”
    Sneh Sammelon- a get-together
    Pre marriage Counseling
    Thalassemia Checkup for college students
    Adolescence Education
    Survey “ Education for All”, conducted by CHM students
  12. Intercollegiate One day work shop “ Adolescence Health Education”
  13. Two Day Workshop on “ Adolescence Health Education” for Smt CHM college students
  14. Two workshop on “ Folk media and folk theatre”(RCH, ARSH, PCPNDT ACT, HIV/AIDS and Cancer) for Peer Trainers Enlisted through Women’s Studies
    Centre of Smt CHM College in association wit Integrated Health and Family Welfare Society, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, Ulhasnagar. generating awareness in the community on the issues of Reproduction Child Health (RCH), Adolescence Reproduction Sexual Health (ARSH), Pre-conceptual Pre-Nodal Detraction Technique (PC-PNDT) Act, HIV, AIDS and Cancer and Environmental issues

2009-2010

  1. New Batch of Adult Education Project (AEP) of UGC Sponsored Women's Studies Centre comprises of 72 school dropouts.
  2. UGC Sponsored Women's Studies Centre organises a seminar on "Importance of Education" on 27 th Feb, 2010 for New Batch of AEP
    Director's Dr. S. Asokan & Ms. Sonia Varandani will co-ordinate the event
    Dr. Charanjeet Kaur - Head of English Department, Reader, Co-ordinator of BMM and Former Director of Women Studies Center and Sucheta Gokhale, Subject In-charge Junior College, Marathi Department will present a talk on "Importance of Education" in English and Marathi Language respectively. This seminar will motivate AEP group and enthuse them for further studies.