An approximately 45-minute drive from the airport would take you to the Vardhman College of Engineering, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Vardhman provides technical education to over 5000 students and boasted of the highest Gender ratio of 60:40 among all the colleges/universities that we have traveled to so far. In fact, we were apprised that some of the courses like that of computer science attracted a 50:50 ratio. In Kerala, earlier, we had noticed a higher ratio of girls in specific courses like Civil Engineering. In our conversation with the Principal Dr. JVR Ravindra and the HOD of electrical engineering Dr. Asif, while discussing gender parity in engineering courses, they shared their observations on Kerala, where a lot of the girls were absorbed by the Gulf Construction companies. Considered a valuable asset as the girls made very diligent and sincere workers in comparison to their male counterparts.

We reached a day before the session scheduled for 18th November and in quick succession of the session in Bangalore, Karnataka on 15th earlier in the week. Our first trip to Hyderabad beckoned us to visit at least some of its iconic sites. Of all the places we chose the Salar Jung, museum. Hiring a guide we walked down the dusty (quite literally) shelves of world history as recreated by the personal collection of artifacts of Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan or popularly known as Salar Jung III.

The next day we reached a jam-packed hall to conduct the session with students of all genders in rapt attention. A 60-minute interactive workshop embellished with extensive research data, and videos are wrapped with the steps to be taken that have been documented with IPS Chhaya Sharma, in case of sexual violence. A customary selfie post the workshops is a testimony to our interaction and the impact it makes on the fertile minds of the youth despite the intense session. As an immediately actionable suggestion, we also encourage the institutes to invest in counselors not just as a cursory requirement but to measure and monitor the well-being of the students all through their course. At Gitam university in Andhra Pradesh, the students have access to online counseling all year round through Yourdost. We were told that the university has taken the subscription on behalf of the students and counselors are in touch with the faculty in case an intervention is required.

We flew back to Delhi the same evening, though not before some shopping at the Karachi Bakery (The tutti Frutti biscuits are worth the hype). Vanshika continues to coordinate and streamline all logistics involved including identifying and scheduling the sessions with the different state universities. She is inspiring in her own right, besides interning with JOSH TALKS she also tops her class at Delhi University where she pursues her Master’s Degree in Sociology.

We still had another session to go before the year ended. Only we didn’t realize it would be on the 10th year since Nirbhaya on 16th December. Now that’s a story for the next blog!

If you would like to have us conduct this 90-minute session in your college or company just drop us a mail with the details of the institution and the preferred dates at suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com.

Links for further study

To read about the Kerala Chapter click here>>

To read about the Karnataka Chapter click here>>

To read about the Vizag Chapter click here>>

To read about the Chennai, Chapter click here>>

To read about the Prayagraj Chapter click here>>

To read about Assam Chapter click here>>

To read about Kolkatta Chapter click here>>

To read about the Kanpur Chapter click here>>

To read about the Purnea Bihar Chapter click here>>

To read about the Pune experience click here>>

To know more about the online session experience read here >>

PS: if you stand for what is right – team SABERA (Annual Awards and Summit by the  Simply Suparnaa © Media Network) you must watch the annual event recognizing the GOOD work across India.

The post Stand up for what’s Right I Hyderabad Chapter appeared first on Woman Endangered.

After 2 online sessions with the ITI institutes in Kanpur and Calcutta. We had the opportunity to conduct a live session with engineering students of Vishvakarma Institute of Technology in Pune. Travelling from the scorching heat in Delhi to a surprisingly pleasant Pune (a western disturbance lowered the temperatures) was a respite.

Before the workshop, I had the opportunity to interact with department heads and the faculty of the institute over some delicious vada pav. It was indeed very heartening to know that all AICTE approved engineering colleges need to have 33% girls. The curriculum now includes human values, ethics and philosophy since, 2017.

The session itself was helped organised by ‘The Diva Club’ from the institute and was attended by over 300 students that sat through the hour-long session in rapt attention. Post the session groups of boys and girls engaged personally with me discussing experiences and the collective way forward. It was heartening to see some share their individual stories promising that they WILL stand up for what’s RIGHT. Not turning a blind eye in case they see a miscreant causing trouble.

Through the session, we also shared tips from IPS officer Chhaya Sharma on what to do in case of an unfortunate incident of sexual violence. The overall content covers aspects of, What constitutes violence against women?; Violence a woman may face throughout her life; Why we need to talk about this?; and What can we, do?

I was accompanied to Pune by a bright young girl from JOSH Talks who is a master’s student herself and is interning with the organisation. Vanshika, made sure the session went on without a glitch and we look forward to visiting more colleges across the length and breadth of the country soon. Rest assured, will keep you posted!

Btw- SABERA (Social and Business enterprise Responsible Awards) registrations are open and have received a super response from MNCs and homegrown entities big and small – to help us recognise the GOOD you do! Register here>>

The post Combating Violence Against Women I Pune Chapter appeared first on Woman Endangered.

To stand up for what is Right especially to raise awareness of and combat violence against women is a topic close to my heart. So when JOSH TALKS approached me to conduct a workshop with the youth of the country, I was more than happy to do so. So far 2 sessions have already been successfully conducted with the ITI institutes in Kanpur and Calcutta. These sessions are a part of the CSR initiatives of one of their (JOSH TALKS) clients. The hour-long session is encouraged to be interactive and I also share tips from IPS officer Chhaya Sharma on what to do in case of an unfortunate incident of sexual violence.

This hour-long session further covers aspects of, What constitutes violence against women?; Violence a woman may face throughout her life; Why do we need to talk about this?; and What can we, do?

In case you would like to conduct a session in your institute, office school or college do write to me at suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com or womanendangered@gmail.com. We charge a nominal fee which further facilitates us to buy sustainable menstrual hygiene products for the marginalised.

To support our initiative contribute here.

The post Violence against Women appeared first on Woman Endangered.