International Women’s day celebration at IIM Indore
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IIM Indore celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 by organizing a colloquium on the theme of ‘Empowering Women in India: Challenges and Opportunities.’ The Institute also hosted the first Amrata Pancholi Memorial Lecture on the day with Dr. Neharika Vohra, Professor of IIM Ahmedabad, delivering a talk on ‘Women Leaders and Leadership: A time to integrate our Strengths’. Smt. Nirmala Buch, former Chief Secretary of the government of Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated the event and was the key note speaker. She spoke of the various initiatives of the government towards empowering women and commented on the role that institutions, civic society and individuals have towards women’s empowerment.

The first panel discussion on ‘Empowering Women’ drew on panelists from differing professions and sectors, featuring Smt. Manorama Menon (Founder, Janhit Vikas Sanstha and active social worker), Dr. Anita Ayyar (Senior Geriatrics Specialist), Smt. Annie Pawar (Retired General Manager of SBI), Smt. Puspha Mittal (Entrepreneur, Steel Industry), Smt. Rumni Ghosh (Editorial Assistant, Dainik Bhaskar) and Smt. Sadhana Pathak (Advocate, M.P. High Court). The panel deliberated on what women’s empowerment meant to each of them and discussed ways to empower women by integrating the differing perspectives.

A speaker series was also organized, featuring women who have made a difference to society. In the speaker series, Smt. Sumitra Guha (Padma Shree awardee) shared her experiences and journey as a musician, Smt. G. V. Rashmi (Managing Director, M.P. Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam Ltd.) spoke of women whose contributions the world has forgotten and the need to recognize the worth that women in their everyday lives make, Smt. Anuradha Shankar (IPS, Inspector General, Intelligence Department) spoke of Sita as an empowered woman making choices and cautioned against the commodification of women, and Smt. Praseeda Kunam (CEO, Samhita Microfinance) discussed the status of women in Madhya Pradesh with regard to financial empowerment.

A second panel discussion on the theme of ‘Education for Women: Challenges and Opportunities’ featured academicians and student participants from IIM Indore. The panel members were Dr. Lalita Singh (Principal, Shishu Kunj International School), Dr. Punita Nehru (Principal, Satya Sai Vidya Vihar), Dr. Archana Ranka (Professor of Law, DAVV), Dr. Neharika Vohra (Professor, IIM Ahmedabad) and Major Divya Pillai and Captain Sonia Bharadwaj (participants of IIM Indore’s Defense Officers Programme). The panel discussed on empowering women through education, the barriers to education for women and the importance of mindset change in improving participation of women at all levels of education.

The programme concluded with a classical recital by renowned vocalist Padma Shree Vidushi Sumitra Guha and her accompanying artists.