Date:20/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/20/stories/2006082016760200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Grooming women to face challenges

Staff Reporter

Secretary of the Year contest held; winner to participate in national finals

HYDERABAD: Professional challenges do not plague men alone. Women face them too. The Secretary of the Year contest organised by the Indian Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals (IASAP) was one event here on Saturday aimed at grooming them for facing such situations.

Chairperson, IASAP and Manager-MD's Office, ITW India Limited, Gita Deb said: "As the concept of secretaries is getting obsolete and fast being replaced by administrative jobs, the idea is to adapt to the changing scenario. We are trying to prepare our members for taking greater managerial responsibilities and challenges in times to come."

Thirteen contestants registered for the contest initially. The participants had to go through various rounds comprising written test, group discussion, personal interview and an extempore respectively. Based on that, the winner, first runner-up and second runner-up were chosen from eight short-listed candidates for the Regional Finals.

The winner of 2006 contest, Mahrukh F. Patel, Executive Secretary to MD, Godavari Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited told The Hindu : "Working women face lots of challenges today. However, the best way to deal with them is to consider them as situations and deal with them at that point of time."

The winner and first runner-up will participate in the national finals, which will be held at Mumbai on September 9. The winner will then compete for the Asian title. IASAP has seven chapters in the four metros and in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune as well. The Hyderabad Chapter has 85 members holding secretary and manager level posts in various corporate companies.