Awareness programme on Gender and Gender based Violence for Urban Hostellers
Sadhana Foundation organized an Awareness Programme on Gender and Gender based violence for urban hostellers at Pokhariput, Bhubaneswar on 21st August 2019. The students shared their experiences, views and opinions regarding gender-based violence. The Awareness Programme dealt with the themes of Gender, Sex, Gender stereotypes, different types of violence, safety and security of women at workplace, cyber sexual crime, Menstrual taboos etc. Interactive sessions in the Awareness Programme brought out the fact that lack of handholding support and access to timely justice, absence of appropriate infrastructure and schemes fail to provide succor to girls and women facing violence. The programme witnessed overwhelming participation of the girls which was facilitated by the superintendent of the hostel.
Orientation Programme on “Role of Women in Social Change”
It is contention beyond contest that patriarchy and patriarchal norms and mores rule the roost of social life in India. Family line runs along the path of patriarchy and the male members call the shot with identity of the girls and women of the household always bears a reference to the male members of the family. The father of the household is the head of the family and he takes all the decisions related to the life of a child. While taking decisions is of paramount importance, a woman is never asked about her opinion though she plays an important role in facilitating changes in family life.
Keeping this in mind, Sadhana foundation in association with Gandhi Adhyayana Kendra, Dhenkanal organized a day long orientation programme on “Role of women in social change” on 28th November 2019 at Dhenkanal Sahitya Sansad, Dhenkanal. SHG leaders, students, Journalists, Social activists and youths participated in that programme and contributed their valuable inputs to bring changes in the prevailing situation of gender disparity. Mr. Prasanta Kumar Mishra, socialist leader, Mr. Kalyan Anand, State Coordinator, Yusuf Meherally Centre, Odisha chapter, Mr. Bhabani Shankar Mishra, Retired Principal, Mr. Prabodh Maharana, Director, Mission Shakti and Mr. Pramod Kumar Mohapatra graced the occasion.
Capacity Building Camp on Leadership Building (Residential)
Sadhana Foundation, Bhubaneswar with the support of Kishan Vikash Trust, Bihar organized a three days’ Capacity Building Camp on Leadership Building from 30th November 2019 to 2nd December 2019 at Niladrivihar Kalyan mandap, Bhubaneswar. Around 40 participants from different districts of Odisha attended the residential programme.
The camp was inaugurated by eminent Green Man Nobel Environmentalist awardee Mr. Prafulla Kumar Samantara, Mr. Pravat Kumar, Director, Kishan Vikash Trust, former MP Dr. Sunilam, noted political activist Mr. Rangacharan Pradhan and journalist Mr. Jabar Singh Verma from Uttarakhand. Eminent speakers enriched the sessions with discussions and deliberations on different welfare schemes, socio-political and economic scenario of India, role of panchayatiraj system, need of good governance, gender and gender-based violence, Right to Information, and role of social media in bringing about changes in the society. The residential camp was made lively with innovative presentations of plays and skits on different social issues.
The camp was facilitated and hosted by Ms. Sujata Mohapatra, Secretary, Sadhana Foundation, Ms. Jyotsna Mohanty, Trustee, Mr. Soumya Ranjan Swain, Executive Director and Mr. Suryakant Mohapatra, treasurer. Mr. Ranjan Kumar Sahoo coordinated the whole process.
Role of Women in Social Progress
Sadhana Foundation in collaboration with Nari Shakti Trust, Jagatsinghpur organized a one-day workshop on “Role of Women in social Progress” at Patappur panchayat of Jagatsinghpur district. Local SHG leaders, CRP members, village women, social activists and representatives of the media joined the workshop and discussed on issues such as; role and responsibilities of different stakeholders in strengthening Panchayatiraj system, role of women in social movements, Gender and gender-based violence.
Celebration of International Women’s Day
Sadhana Foundation and SWATI celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th of March 2020 at Bhubaneswar with women leaders from five area level Foundations (Ekata, Adarsha, Dharitri, Shree and Jai hanuman) with the objective to encourage the women scale new heights in realizing their innate potential and making the larger society an eco-system that provides such options and opportunities to them.
Around 200 women leaders joined the public meeting and disseminated the message of women’s rights and gender equality among the public through a rally. The rally witnessed active participation of women community leaders and it was received with encouragement by the public. Local corporators, local MLA, frontline workers, social workers of SWATI joined the programme and expressed their solidarity on the issue of gender equality, gender justice and women empowerment.