Samvaad
Samvaad means discourse or dialogue. Here at the ISR Cell, it is intended to foster awareness among the University social volunteers towards the impact of their efforts on society, for which brainstorming sessions, discussions, etc. will be the integral strategy of the ISR Cell to progress and enhance their societal contributions.
Under Samvaad, the University plans to undertake mediums that will encourage dialogue and collaborations in the ecosystem. It will include publications, conferences, panel discussions and podcasts involving Industry & Academia.
National Conference on Gender and Inclusion: Women in the Workforce
Presidency University organized the National Conference on Gender and Inclusion: Women in the Workforce on its campus on March 14, 2024. The conference was conducted in association with the Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP) and Goonj. The associate partners were the Digital Empowerment Foundation and Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
It was the first of its series of conferences to deliberate thought-provoking discussions on women in the workforce and ponder the startling statistics of women at the workplace. The conference witnessed women from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and sectors.
The dignitaries included chief guest Ms. Vinita Bali, Global Leader & Former MD, Britannia and Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Chief Impact Officer of Sambhav Foundation & Chairperson of LabourNet.
The day started with Ms. Rukmini S., author and independent data journalist, who joined the conference virtually for her keynote address.
The conference had a stellar line-up of eminent speakers, with panelists from industry, academia, and the social sector. The day witnessed three engaging panel discussions.
Title | Chair | Panelists |
---|---|---|
Women in the Workforce: What the Data Says’ |
Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, Executive Director and Chief Scholar at US-India Policy Institute, Washington, DC, USA |
Dr. Subhashini Muthukrishnan, Registrar and Professor, St. Joseph College of Commerce Autonomous, Bengaluru Dr. Priyanka Dwivedi, Assistant Professor, Chanakya University, Bengaluru Ms. Jenny Sulfath, Manager, Communications & Media Department, Digital Empowerment Foundation Dr. Sridevi Tandley, ML Solutions Evangelist, Renowned Speaker & Educator Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Chief Impact Officer, Sambhav Foundation & Chairperson, LabourNet |
Woman in the Workforce: Tackling Challenges and Way Forward’ |
Woman in the Workforce: Tackling Challenges and Way Forward’ |
Dr. Vinod Vyasulu, Senior Economist and Professor Ms. Soma Wadhwa, Senior Research Fellow, CDPP, Associate Professor, School of Modern Media, UPES Ms. Arpita Kanjilal, Manager, Communications & Media Department, Digital Empowerment Foundation |
Women in the Workforce: Learnings from the Grassroots’ Vice Chancellor In-charge |
Mr. Anshu Gupta, Founder, Goonj |
Ms. Kamini Kumari, Secretary, Aapka Aanchal, Bihar Ms. Uthara Narayanan, Founder, Buzz Women, Bengaluru Ms. Hemlata Rajput, Shrijan Kalyan Samiti, Raipur |
The panel discussions were followed by paper presentations in two sessions. The authors presented papers on diverse topics, including gender inclusivity at the workplace, women empowerment at the workplace, implementing the POSH Act in the workplace, gender norms and work dynamics, the economic conditions of paid domestic workers, waste collection by female workers, rural women artisans, skill development of rural women, the study on single women employees in the K–12 education sector, recruitment and retention of women in higher education institutions, and many others.
Featuring presidential, special, and keynote addresses, engaging panel discussions, and networking opportunities, this conference provided a dynamic platform to bring together thought leaders, experts, and activists to share their insights, strategies, and best practices for creating more inclusive environments for all. The panellists received a souvenir, which was handcrafted by the students of the Presidency Foundation skill development centre and the School of Design at Presidency University.