CHANDIGARH-March 12, 2012: The department of Life Long Learning & Extension(DLLL&E),
Panjab University under the able guidance of Prof. Sween organized a week long
celebration  of International Women’s Day for women from different walks of life
namely, slum women, educated women and students from March 6-12, 2012.   At Bhaskar
Colony, Sector-25 different competitive programmes like Heena Competition, Best Recipe
Preparation and Rangoli Competitions were organized. At YWCA Sector-11, Chandigarh a
celebration was organized for working women by educating about new societal challenges
like domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and climate change. Women need to be urgently
provided with the necessary skills to meet the requirement to face the new societal
challenges. On 12.3.2012 the department organized the valedictory function at the
Department of History, Panjab University for university students by educating the
students on the issues of gender perspective in India and also sensitized them about
their role to give better social status to the women.
    Mrs. Renu Gandhi, programme Incharge expressed that there is a need to provide
vocational educational programmes for women which in-return will help in raising the
social and economic status of rural and urban women and decision making power. It is
urgent that the government and society invest in quality education and develop
lifelong learning programmes to help poor urban and rural women to exercise their
citizenship, be agent of change and contribute to sustainable development, she added.
    Dr. Sudhir Baweja from USOL department of Philosophy, Panjab University said
that the education system today must contribute to the economic autonomy of women
which in turn will give economic status and decision making power to women. Dr. Prabha
Vig from DLLL&E said that women are overloaded with work, and if economic and
educational activities are to be successfully attended by women and make a change in
their lives, these activities must be offered during the time when they are available
and include schemes to alleviate the work of women.
Prof. Devi Sirohi, Department of History, Panjab University emphasized that the main
problem that the rural women face today is their non- participation in educational
activities because of their time constraints which hinders their economic and
productive role in the society in general. Therefore, there is a need to share their
responsibilities so that they exercise their rights and duties in a well defined way,
Prof. Sween, Chairperson of department informed.

                                                 
                                                 Press
Note No.159