On September 21, 2024, I had the privilege of conducting a transformative workshop at VIT Pune, aimed at combating violence against women. This session marked my second interaction with the talented second-year BTech students at this esteemed institution. My first visit in 2022, as part of an impactful initiative, rolled out in collaboration with JOSH TALKS and their client TVS, involved engaging engineering students across twelve states in India on this crucial topic.

Read about the in-person workshops with VIT Pune

Understanding Gender-Based Violence

At the core of this workshop was a comprehensive understanding of what gender-based violence entails. Participants delved into its various forms, recognized the phases of life where such violence can occur, and discussed effective prevention strategies. We highlighted the importance of understanding these elements and taking action to eradicate this grave societal issue and ensure justice for victims.

A key highlight of the session was the inclusion of insights from IPS Chhaya Sharma, the head of the Special Unit for Women and Child in the Delhi Police. Her instrumental role in cracking the infamous Nirbhaya case provided the students with a real-world perspective on the urgency and complexity of addressing violence against women.

Read more here यौन उत्पीड़न के मामले में क्या करना है – What to do in case of Rape ?

Insights from the Pre-Workshop Survey

Before the workshop, we surveyed 36 participating students to gauge their knowledge of gender-based violence. The results were revealing:

• Over half of the respondents (19 out of 36) believed that at least one in every three women faces some form of violence in their lifetime.
• About half of the respondents (14) thought that only two out of ten victims ever seek justice.
• A similar number (13 respondents) felt that violence against women begins in infancy.

These statistics underscore the pervasive nature of violence and the critical need for ongoing education and awareness on this issue.

A Platform for Inquiry and Inspiration

The hour-long workshop encouraged an open and engaging dialogue among the students, regardless of gender. Their eagerness to ask questions demonstrated a shared commitment to understanding and combating violence against women. Many expressed the need for continued discussions and workshops, highlighting the importance of integrating these conversations into educational settings.

Meet the Facilitator

The session was led by Suparnaa Chadda, widely known as Simply Suparnaa, the founder of the Simply Suparnaa Media Network. A notable UN Women Awardee, Suparnaa has dedicated her career to advocating for women’s rights and empowering communities through education and awareness. Her passion and expertise were pivotal in guiding the workshop, inspiring countless students to become advocates for change. Suparnaa also acknowledges SDG-aligned initiatives through the annual SABERA Awards which includes लैंगिक समानता (Gender Diversity & Inclusion).

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As we concluded the workshop, it became clear that knowledge and awareness are the first steps toward making a tangible impact in the fight against violence against women. By instilling these values in young minds, we can foster a generation of leaders who are committed to creating safer environments for all.

This workshop not only educated students but also equipped them with the tools to inspire change in their communities. It’s time to turn awareness into action! For hosting a workshop with your university students write to womanendangered@gmail.com or suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com

The post Breaking the Silence: Empowering Students to Combat Gender based Violence Against Women appeared first on Woman Endangered.

Surana was in the heart of the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore, unlike most of our previous excursions which have been in the remotest corners of the states from Puthoor in Kerala to Purnea in Bihar or even Boko in Assam. Even so, we were apprised of the unique challenges the private technical institutes faced in the bustling modern city.

Before the actual session we normally have an informal chit-chat with the dean or person incharge of managing the institute to get oriented to the culture of the college in particular and the state/city at large. At Surana we interacted with the chair of the student council Dr Chandana who introduced us to the principal Dr Kumar. Through our conversation Dr Kumar apprised us of the high fees levied by the private technical institutes in the region, which in some cases has led girl students into the trap of sexual favors. On being asked if the same has been reported or a any data available, he shared while no formal complaints have been filed so far but the the social media is rampant with such allegations. A casual search on the net reveals many instances of sexual favors being asked of students for marks in private universities in Karnataka.

The session itself was attended by over 350 students in their beautiful designed cedar wood finished auditorium in the basement. The energy was high after the ‘tech check’ of the sound system was done by presumambly beat boxing!

Each session, as Vanshika (The coordinator of all these sessions on behalf of JOSH TALKS for TVS Raider) and I mused, seems to have its own trajectory mapping the mood of the audience. While we cover all the essential points but the communication adapts itself to each college, city and state we’ve visited so far. While the medium remains Hindi and English, and the media a presentation and a few videos, my extempore interaction changes with each session with inputs from the previous workshops, some personal anecdotes and a gentle push for the students to contribute through their experiences as well.

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 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 recognising the GOOD work across India. While the

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

Vizag as the Britishers coined it for lack of the ability to pronounce Vishakhapatnam, was the port town that gave access through the east coast to the wonder called India. We reached Vizag on the evening of September 10th for the session planned the next day at Gitam deemed university.

Early the next morning we planned to go towards the beach before setting out for the session. The Ramakrishna beach was some 4km from the hotel and we decided to walk in the light drizzle to build an appetite before breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised by the roads winding up and down the hilly terrain. It is indeed beautiful to trek down the road that opens up beautifully to the wide expanse of the east coast. Vishakhapatnam is beautiful. We were mesmerised by the pull of the Bay of Bengal. Ill-prepared as we were to experience her in all her glory, we were taken aback by her ferocity. With the waves hitting the shores akin to lightning, the Bay of Bengal was raging. We retreated soon enough and enjoyed her unremitting waves from a distance.

It was only later that we discovered the Bay of Bengal as experienced through the east of India rages all through the coastlines from Vishakhapatnam to Orissa. Unlike the sea on the west coast of India which allows swimmers to enjoy diving or playing a sport. All sports and even swimming close to the coastline are discouraged on this side where there have been many fatal incidents without so much as a trace left behind. That said the coastline is gorgeous. We thoroughly enjoyed our drive winding up the hill with the ocean as the view opened up to the horizon.

The session itself was scheduled for 4 pm. Gitam university’s 110-acre campus sits beautifully atop a hill overlooking the ocean. And if you happen to be there in the evening the air is rent with a spiritual fervour with the sounds of the Aarti performed in the adjoining Sri Venkateshwar temple aarti.

We, Vanshika (Josh Talks intern who flawlessly organises these sessions coordinating with colleges) and I were given an extensive tour of the campus. The university boasts 12 ‘Bhavans’ each of which is a dedicated college to a specific stream from sciences, liberal arts and so on.

Combating violence against women is a subject very close to my heart and to get such an opportunity to be able to conduct these sessions, I remain grateful to JOSH TALKS and TVS Radar. for conducting These pertinent sessions aim to proactively affect real change targeting the youth of the country, equipping them with the necessary information & tools and most importantly motivate to stand for what’s right.

The session was attended by 200 plus students including both girls and boys. I realised just like in Chennai, here too the students were shy to come out and speak openly. But soon enough as the session ended I had young girls approach me with their individual experiences, resonating with the need for such sessions. A simple decision of being on the organising committee for the football club had questions raised on the intention of the girl, shared a student. And not from boys but other female students. These unconscious biases affect women as much as they do men is an undeniable fact. While the said concern may seem trivial but it reflects the deeply ingrained biases which may play out not so trivially moving on. And hence the need for all genders to be aware and mindful of their intention, choices and actions.

We were also lucky to experience an almost full moon rise on the drive after our session.

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 prefered dates at suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com.

Links for further study

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) jury is looking for you Register here>>

The post Vizag Chapter I Combating Violence against women appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The sessions on standing up for what’s right and combating violence against women have had us travel extensively across different state universities in India. After successfully conducting sessions with the youth from Maharashtra (Pune), Uttar Pradesh (Kanpur & Prayagraj), Bihar (Purnea), West Bengal (Kolkatta) and Boko (Assam) we reached Chennai on 21st September. A beautiful sculpture of Devi Ma welcomed us at the airport and the resolve to visit Kanchipuram Shaktipeeth to offer our gratitude to her for being able to do this work became stronger.

My gratitude also for the opportunity to both JOSH TALKS and TVS Radar, for conducting these sessions. Vanshika (Interning with JOSH TALKS ) continues to manage and coordinate with the colleges ensuring all goes smoothly. She also adds the much-needed perspective of a student (of sociology) herself which further connects with the audience we are addressing.

The SRM UNIVERSITY has a large campus that can qualify as a small town itself. It houses Asia’s largest library and offers all undergraduate and post-graduate courses barring marine engineering and Veterinarian sciences, as I was informed by the dean of Management Studies, Dr Subhashree Natrajan.

Interaction with the faculty before the actual session always orients us to the cultural and regional nuances that the students are exposed to. The students are conservative here, the dean apprised me. But violence and discrimination are rampant. While the campus itself is safe, I was told of an incident that happened on the campus by an outsider who beat up a girl! The student had not complained as it was something she had, alarming, grown to accept. While other cities across Tamil Nadu also experience gender-based violence, Coimbatore, in particular, is notorious on this front, shared the dean.

The session was attended by 300 plus students including both girls and boys. I realised soon enough what the Dean had prepared me for, the students were indeed shy. However, while they were distracted, to begin with, the faculty including Dr Sriram M stood testimony to the rapt attention and pin drop silence throughout the 90-minute session. Dr Sriram over lunch (at the hotel management wing) later, vouched to include gender sensitivity in his teaching or at least orient it such that the students felt comfortable to confide in the faculty with any issues relating to the same.

The sun is definitely harsh in the afternoon in Chennai, but that didn’t dampen our spirits to visit Kanchipuram after the session. Vanshika (A young student intern with Josh Talks) and I tried booking a cab through the app and realised soon enough that most cabbies solicit passengers using the app but negotiate later for a higher price and cash payment. This seemed to be an unwritten norm given the huge transaction fees the apps charged and the high diesel prices as explained by our cabbie en route to Kanchipuram, Kamakshi ShaktiPeeth.

The Shaktipeeth are 51 places across the country where different parts of Devi Ma’s energies are revered as the mother and creator of the universe. Given our 3rd consecutive visit to her Shaktipeeth, we are blessed in gratitude for her to choose us for this work to make for a safe and peaceful world for all.

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 prefered dates at suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com.

Links for further study

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) jury is looking for you Register here>>

The post Combat gender-based violence I Chennai Chapter appeared first on Woman Endangered.