By TCN News,
Aligarh: “Gender equality could only be attained if women of the country cutting across the political, religious and linguistic barriers join hands and it will pave the way for their political, economic and social empowerment”, said Mrs. Salma Ansari, wife of the Vice President of India.
Delivering a keynote address at a workshop at Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, Mrs. Ansari said that the political dispensations are hardly sensitive to the aspirations of women. She wishfully recalled her student days at Aligarh Muslim University and said that Aligarh has always welcomed new ideas and provided equal opportunities to girl students.
Mrs. Salma Ansari addressing a programme at the Women's Studies Centre
AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah said that the University will construct a new Hall of residence to accommodate 1500 girls and the I. G. Hall will be handed over to Women’s College for accommodating undergraduate girls.
He said that University would provide a grant of five lakh for purchase of books for the Women’s College library. He asked the girls of Women’s College to identify books available in the Maulana Azad Library and they will be delivered to them next day.
Gen. Shah said that he would not tolerate any financial irregularity in the University or any act that lowers the dignity of the women.
Ms. Indu Agnihotri, Secretary, Association of Women’s Studies said that Indian Women are still facing many problems and equality and gender justice is a major issue today.
She said that AMU occupied a special place among the institutions propagating education among masses. She said that such academic discussions would enhance the social orientations.
On this occasion, Prof. Zakia A. Siddiqui, Founder Director of the Centre for Women’s Studies said that during the Vice Chancellor ship of Mr. Mohd. Hamid Ansari, this Centre was established and the then Chairman of University Grants’ Commission, Prof. Hari Gautam played a very positive role in the establishment of this centre.
Prof. Nighat Ahmad, Director of the Centre welcomed the delegates. Prof. N. A. K. Durrani, Dean, Faculty of Social Science proposed a vote of thanks.