Bhubaneswar: The Central University Of Odisha, Koraput, in a special programme organized at the varsity campus, Sunabeda to celebrate the occasion of International Women’s Day-2020, felicitated three eminent women of the region and one woman student, for their outstanding contribution to the society.
The Programme, organized on March 6, with the theme “Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Right”, was inaugurated by the vice-chancellor of the CUO, Prof. I. Ramabrahmam, who felicitated the three eminent women and student of CUO.
They are, ‘Nari Shakti Swaroopa’, ‘Adarsh Mahila’ awardee and ‘Mothers on Wheel’ fame Smt. Madhuri Sahasrabudhe; ‘Prakruti Mitra’, Parab Samman-2019’ awardee and tribal woman leader and environmentalist of the Koraput district Smt. Radha Pandia;’ Social activist and eminent academic Smt. Pronoti Deb from Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) and awardee of best Supporting Actress by Odisha State Film Awards (Film-Pheria), Ms. Shivani Khara, 1st year student of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The three women, shared their experiences and views with the gathering.
The distinguished guest, Smt. Pandia spoke about her struggle while organising the village women to protect the village forests around 1999. She said how, under her leadership, she started protecting village forests, framed rules for community forest management, sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest produces, preventing forest fire and poaching of wild animals.
Smt. Saharabudhe in her speech highlighted the need for generation equality and role of mother in promoting family values. She shared her personal journey from Delhi to London as a part of her “Mothers on Wheel” mission, recollected the overwhelming response that has been received on this self-driven road journey covering 23657 kilometres and 20+ countries, meeting and discussing with mothers from a wide range of cultures.
She also revealed about her working towards a second ‘Mothers on Wheels’ trip through South East Asia and Australia. She motivated the students to work for the betterment of the society.
The women students and staff from some neighbouring colleges like Semiliguda College also participated in the programme and shared their views on above theme.
Prizes and certificates were also awarded to the winners of the Essay Writing Competitions in English, Hindi and Odia languages on pursuance of the International Women’s Day 2020.