Spotlight on woman power

Cutting across cultural and academic differences, a seminar on Academic Challenges, discussed a plethora of important women's issues, bringing together 70 participants from all over the country. PADMINI DEVARAJAN reports.

WHAT EMERGED from the three-day seminar on Academic Challenges For Women in the 21 century, has been a step towards promoting a positive partnership with women in all walks of life, cutting across social, cultural, academic and other differences. Jointly organised by the Anna University and Science City, Chennai, it brought together nearly 70 participants from all over the country and abroad, and nearly 50 papers were presented and discussed on several issues and challenges faced by women in various fields.

Several problems were identified and viable solutions suggested by women who responded to the invited talks. Ms. Meena Swaminathan (Honorary Secretary, M.S. Swaminathan Research Institute) pointed out that academic challenges are common to both men and women. But apparently academic women feel a bit of unease. Science should be used by women for women and there are fewer women in the higher rungs. The constraints of home and family may be the reason, but the loss for society is considerable. Women's approach to science should be based on the needs of women in general, especially with respect to benefits reaching the poor.

Ms. Soundaravalli Kulandaiswamy, Regional Director, IGNOU, felt that the greatest challenge of education today is to keep pace with technology. The knowledge resource in India should be tapped to make up for the lack of other resources. This source should help identify the academic and administrative challenges and also improve quality of home and work environments. The theme of distance education, as practised by IGNOU, makes use of multimedia to reach even the villages, by empowering the disadvantaged.

Ms. Gariyali, Vice-Chairperson, Science City, Chennai, felicitated many women-oriented activities. She also stressed the importance of improving women's health which could alter their overall performance and contribution for the betterment of society. Population stabilisation should go beyond family planning and all the departments have to be roped in, to deal with this Herculean task. Dr. Veena Ravichandran (COSTED) called for political empowerment of women in today's scenario of the increase in the number of women in academics. The focus should also be on development studies.

Ms. Sarasa Arumugam,(Madras Medical Research Foundation) urged women to contribute more towards research, especially in areas like genetic mapping, cure for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, or treatment for common cold and heart attack. Women should be able to look at common things with a sense of wonder. This alone can lead to real discovery.

Dr. Thara Menon (SCARF, Chennai) who spoke about women's mental health in particular, (related to their physical set up) stressed on the importance of counselling that can avert many a tragedy. Dr. Sudha Rao(NEPA) spoke of the challenge for women in managing professional and personal roles. Women should strive for excellence in performance and help provide avenues for the less privileged. Teaching should be approached professionally, and work ethics has to be built on strong foundations.

Ms. Latika Padalkar, Vigilance Commissioner & Commissioner of Administrative Reforms, Government of Tamil Nadu, in her inaugural, urged women to emulate the tenacity of purpose of the bumblebee; this alone would ensure a sure way to success. Only then can the thin line between success and failure be made to tilt towards success, to make women emerge triumphant.

At the Valedictory, nine women scientists received Lifetime Achievement Awards. Prof. A. Nigavekar, Vice-Chairman, UGC, who gave the awards, pointed out the fact that women power and their potential needs to be encouraged and nurtured to enable them contribute in a holistic manner to society.

The paradoxical situation of the concept of women emancipation has to be readjusted with the help of not only women and men but also the government and other organisations. The recipients of the Lifetime Awards were: Ms. E. V. Kalyani, Honorary Prof. of Gynaecology, Madras Medical College, Ms. Rajammal P. Devadas, Chancellor, Avinashlingam Deemed University, Ms. Lalitha Kameswaran, Member, State Planning Commission, Ms. Sarasa B. Arumugham, Director, Laboratory Services, Madras Medical Research Foundation, Ms. Sharada Menon, (Retd.) Superindentent of Institute of Mental Health, Ms. C. N. Sowmini, (Retd.) Director, Institute of Venerology, Ms. Mathangi Ramakrishnan, Chief, Plastic Surgery Dept, Child's Trust Hospital, Ms. S. Gnana Soundari, Founder, Nagamani Hospital, and Ms. V. Shantha, Executive Chairman, Cancer Institute, Adyar.

Suggestions

-- Women should be inc;luded in selection panels.

-- The educational and research institutions may involve urban and rural women in seminars and product-oriented workshops.

-- To provide web enabled educational programmes, and to award flexi-time and flexi-space to women to fulfil their multi roles.

-- Media and textbooks should reflect the role of women as engaged in knowledge pursuits and not as merely as engaged in domestic chores.

-- Women should be women-friendly and appreciative of good work done by others.

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