BY A STAFF REPORTER
NEW YORK, NY -Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation and the Indian Consulate, New York” jointly celebrated International Women’s month on Mar 24, focusing on, women’s empowerment through education. The event also provided the first opportunity for newly appointed Consulate General (CG), Riva Ganguly Deb to interact with...
NEW YORK, NY -Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation and the Indian Consulate, New York” jointly celebrated International Women’s month on Mar 24, focusing on, women’s empowerment through education. The event also provided the first opportunity for newly appointed Consulate General (CG), Riva Ganguly Deb to interact with...
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the Indian-American community. In her welcome address, CG Ganguly Deb, provided an overview of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ‘ ‘ as a flagship initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whereby a third of village panchayats have been decreed to have women in responsible positions. She acknowledged that, though great strides are being made to empower women, a lot yet to be done especially in rural areas. She expressed hope that grass-root organizations like Ekal, with presence in 60,000-plus villages can play an important role in this. Aroon Shivdasani, the President of the Indo American Arts Council, gave the keynote address. She stressed the importance of educating men as much as women to create an environment in families where self-esteem of individuals is not compromised and women have equal opportunity in all walks of life.
ITV’s famous anchor woman, Renee Mehrra, moderated the panel discussion among three women from different backgrounds and family values -. Ranjani Saigal, Urmilesh Arya and Sunita Saini.
Saigal, Executive Director of ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’, touched on the need to uphold the standards set by parents who precipitated her own academic success at IIT and MIT. She informed that Ekal puts special emphasis on educating girls and making them self-reliant though various skills-training, in rural-tribal areas. Arya, COO at Gastroenterology Associates in Brooklyn, brought to the fore a critical challenge for girls in accessing education - the fear that their daughter would get romantically entangled with a boy, which may bring shame to the family. She herself overcame this challenge and many others with self-conviction and courage.
Saini, Director of South Shore Psychological Services highlighted the importance of having a supportive family who, regardless of gender, value building their children’s career more rather than acquiring material assets.
The ensuing discussion highlighted the relevance of good health for women as a strategy towards empowerment and called for overcoming socio-cultural biases that promote female infanticide.
Anila Midha, a prominent physician was the emcee for the evening. President of Ekal Foundation USA Vinod Jhunjhunwalla and Subash Midha, the main Ekal coordinator for the event thanked the Indian Consulate, for their support.
ITV’s famous anchor woman, Renee Mehrra, moderated the panel discussion among three women from different backgrounds and family values -. Ranjani Saigal, Urmilesh Arya and Sunita Saini.
Saigal, Executive Director of ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’, touched on the need to uphold the standards set by parents who precipitated her own academic success at IIT and MIT. She informed that Ekal puts special emphasis on educating girls and making them self-reliant though various skills-training, in rural-tribal areas. Arya, COO at Gastroenterology Associates in Brooklyn, brought to the fore a critical challenge for girls in accessing education - the fear that their daughter would get romantically entangled with a boy, which may bring shame to the family. She herself overcame this challenge and many others with self-conviction and courage.
Saini, Director of South Shore Psychological Services highlighted the importance of having a supportive family who, regardless of gender, value building their children’s career more rather than acquiring material assets.
The ensuing discussion highlighted the relevance of good health for women as a strategy towards empowerment and called for overcoming socio-cultural biases that promote female infanticide.
Anila Midha, a prominent physician was the emcee for the evening. President of Ekal Foundation USA Vinod Jhunjhunwalla and Subash Midha, the main Ekal coordinator for the event thanked the Indian Consulate, for their support.
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