Media Release

Udupi, Aug 30: The department of student affairs, MAHE, Manipal in association with District Legal Services Authority, Udupi conducted a Gender Champion workshop for the student community of various institutions of MAHE on August 27 from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM. 

There were 55 faculty coordinators and selected students from various institutes of MAHE. Shantaveer Shivappa, District and Sessions Judge and chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Udupi was the chief guest and Sharmila S, senior civil judge and member secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Udupi, was the guest of honour for the event. The program was presided over by Dr Narayana Sabhahit, registrar, MAHE. Dr Geetha Maiya, director of student affairs, MAHE welcomed the gathering and gave a brief overview of the program. The dignitaries inaugurated the workshop by lighting the lamp.

On this occasion, after inaugurating the MAHE Special Cell to conduct an awareness program to curb the issues related to gender violence and gender inequality, the chief guest, Shantaveer Shivappa said, "There is an urgent need to put in efforts to eradicate discrimination by providing opportunities in education and employment to all genders."

The guest of honour, Sharmila S said, “We should create awareness to combat the existing discrimination or gender inequality.”

Dr Narayana Sabhahit, registrar, MAHE gave the presidential remarks and said, "The instillation of gender stereotypes occurs in childhood and that awareness of the same is to be given to parents and educators. Only then we can eradicate gender-based discrimination.”

Josna and Sujatha, student counsellors, MAHE, were the masters of ceremonies and Poonam Hegde, student of the department of commerce rendered the invocation. Karuna Devadiga, student counsellor, MAHE was the session coordinator for the workshop. Dr Ashwini Kumar, deputy director, Student Affairs, MAHE, proposed a Vote of Thanks.

Resource persons for the event were Dr Neetha Inamdhar – professor and head, Manipal Centre for European Studies, Nitha Thomas, private consultant psychologist, Dr Jagriti Gangopadhyay, associate professor, Manipal Centre for Humanities, Latha Holla, advocate and external legal advisor for MAHE and Dr Savitha Soman, additional professor and unit head, department of Psychiatry, KMC, Manipal. The speakers focused on themes like creating awareness regarding prevailing gender discrimination within the family, schools, higher education institutes, and at the workplace. They stressed the importance of doing away with misleading gender stereotypes, and inequality in opportunities for basic needs, education, employment, wages, and other benefits.