RASHTRASANT TUKADOJI MAHARAJ NAGPUR UNIVERSITY

About us

The Background

Over the last decade Women’s studies has gained increasing legitimacy with in the academic circles, as a study ultimately aimed at social transformation by attempting to correct the existing gender imbalance in the society. This widespread acceptance, has been achieved only after a long struggle both with in the academic & outside in the women’s movement. Finally the idea of introducing Women’s Studies with in the University system as a means of concentrating the principles of social equality enshrined in the constitution and breaking the ivory tower isolation of the universities gained credence.

The National Policy of Education 1992, state that “women’s studies is a critical input to promote better understanding of women’s contribution to social processes with in social ,technological, and environmental changes of struggles & aspirations conceptual obstacles that make them invisible in many areas of scientific enquiry.” Therefore it is essential that men and women understand women’s issues and problems for a better interpersonal relationship between themselves.

Women’s Studies are a part of the persuit of a comprehensive critical and balanced understanding of the women’s perspective. It’s essential components include: Women’s role in and the contribution to socioeconomic and political processes;

1) A study of roots and structure of inequality that have led to marginalization, invisibility and exclusion of women in democratic processes;

2) The factors that have led to the exclusion of women’s perception from most intellectual enquiry;

3) Women’s perception of their own lives, the broader social reality and their struggles and aspirations.

Women’s Studies if it has to be socially relevant must be addressed to everyone alike and bring about much needed social awareness, meaning thereby this discipline of Women’s studies become an inextricable part of our academic system not only for liberal arts, Humanities, and social sciences but also for Science, technology, engineering, and Medicine. In zest the educational system must internalize the concerns for the equality of women and the enhancement of women’s role in society which could be done through their self dependence developed by capacity building and skills up gradation by way of education. Hence the crucial role of all the academic institutions vis a vis the Universities which are the centres of excellence & learning is to be identified for contribution to the social cause.

Development of Women’s Studies

With the declaration of the year 2001 as women’s empowerment year the momentum of women’s empowerment has been accelerated over the past one decade. At various levels the women’s issues have been taken up on priority basis. The technological courses for women at undergraduate level in the university provided opportunity to women in the sphere of engineering and technology. The women Universities promote professional courses for women. The universities have taken steps to set up permanent cell in universities to combat issues on violence and sexual harassment to women.

In fact Indian women are playing a significant role in maintaining its cultural growth, heritage and development of the country at large. India is categorized as medium Human Development Nation by UNDP on the basis of Human Development Index. The UNESCO Global Monitoring Report 2003-2004 has reported literacy rate of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan as worlds lowest. About two third of world’s adult illiterate in this region are reported to be women. The National Program for education for girls provides residential schools for girls and women empowerment through education. In consonance to this, the University Grant Commission is playing a important role in promoting Women’s Studies and women’s empowerment by implementing the scheme on Development of women Studies in Indian Universities and Colleges. It was in 1985 UGC, then chaired by Prof. Madhuriben Shah, had decided that all Universities should have Women’s Studies Centres who has been supporting fifty centres for Women’s Studies Centers who has been supporting fifty centres for Women’s Studies all over the country. The UGC will continue supporting the centers in Xth Plan for the years 2004-2007 March.

It is a matter of pride that the UGC has granted a Women’s Studies Centre to Nagpur University which is the first of it’s kind in Vidarbha region and has been recently established vide RTM Nagpur University’s Notification No. Estt/05/L/S/198 dated 5th August 2005. in LIT Campus, Bharatnagar, Amravati Road, Nagpur.

The Centre for Women’s Studies & Development at Nagpur

Nagpur is considered the second capital of Maharashtra. Yet it belongs to the backward region of Vidarbha and subsequently the condition of women in Nagpur district is more backward than that of men in the area. Yet, Nagpur is a major educational centre. It draws students not only from the entire Vidarbha region, including the tribal belt of Bhandara and Gadchiroli, but also from neighboring M.P., Chhatisgadh, Orissa and the distant Northeast. Some international students also make their way here in pursuit of higher education. Thus a Women’s Studies and Development Centre at Nagpur University has a very significant role to play, both in terms of the development of women of the region and also as an advancement in the academic framework of the university.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) : The institutional Commitment

The Eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)-which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education , all by target date of 2015 –form a blue print agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the leading development institutions. The MDGs include and stress upon promotion of gender equality and empower women as one of its prime agenda .There is gender inequality in the whole world. Safety and security of women is the major concern. The upliftment of distressed group of families particularly in rural and interior villages of the country is still to be achieved. Steps are essential in universities and colleges for introducing women’s studies particularly to achieve eight Millennium Development Goals. The activities of the centre will be focused around the same 8 points which affect women’s lives to a very great extent as a marked contribution of the 83 years old Institution of Nagpur University.

The women’s studies centre in Nagpur is designed to act as catalyst for promoting and strengthening women’ studies. This will be done through teaching, research on socially relevant issues, curriculum, field extension work especially in the area of gender equity, economic and self reliance, girls education, population education, issues of women rights, laws, social exploitation, awareness activities, collaboration and networking both within and outside the university system.

Further the Centre will also work as a Nodal Centre for providing essential information, design of need based projects, its promotion and implementation, strengthen self reliance among distressed girls/ women in the family and provide extension services. The centre will endeavor to preserve Indian Heritage, art and culture, which are evidenced in rural profession transformed form one generation to other. The Centre will organize street plays, dance, drama, folk songs, village fair and exhibition. For awareness program seminar and conferences will be organized apart from regular teaching, training, research, Extension, and networking, dissemination of information, publications & documentation, advocacy& monitoring & Review. All activities will be aimed at gender mainstreaming & elimination of gender bias in our Indian society at large.

Goal:

To, Strengthen the capacity of women and help them achieve upgraded skills & respectable place in Indian society.

Target Group:

The Centre will attempt to address the needs of women from all strata of the society ranging from housewives, unorganized sector, students to teachers & high ranking professionals of the Vidarbha Region particularly those residing in rural and tribal areas in addition to urban dwellers.

C) Training and extension services

This will be one of the major activities, especially for women in villages for creating awareness and knowledge on women programmes, their rights and laws.

 Training will be imparted to elected women members on Panchayati Raj / local Government Institutions and Urban local bodies to enhance their capacity and capability to ensure the success in their local Government activities.
Reaching out to colleges

 To train staff in colleges so that they can transit knowledge in their areas specially rural, tribal and backward areas.
 To encourage incorporating Women’s Studies needed with men.
 Eliminate violence against women and girl child.
 Promote greater participation of women teachers in the faculty of the centre.

 Create adequate women’s hostel facilities and hostel accommodation to cater to the requirements of girl students especially in colleges.
 Create and share common bank of information
 

Collaboration
D) Collaborate, coordinate and network

 With other agencies engaged in women development and empowerment.
 Collaborate and coordinate with intra-university Centers on Adult and continuing education and population education.
 Industry University Interaction and population education cells.
 Create proper links with Academic staff Colleges and college development Authorities.

E) Publications

The centre will publish a quarterly journal of its activities for a wide circulation and also will prepare booklets on the following subjects for the masses

 Women’s rights
 Capability building
 Counseling
 Legal literacy

F) Documentation, Publication, Dissemination and Transmission

A critical aspect of women’s studies is the creation of new information based on facts and analysis, to generate new ideas and theories, women forums, seminars, meetings that would generate knowledge. This is an important source for those engaged in designing policies and programs for women’s empowerment.

 Creation of new information based on facts and analysis to generate new ideas, knowledge, theory and concept.
 Create and use resource centre for dissemination and transmission of knowledge.
 Resource generation through seminars, workshops and conferences.
 Educational exhibition
 Literary meet of women (Mahila, Marathi Sahitya Sammelan)
Documentation Centre and Library Facilities

The Centre can house a Documentation and Resource Centre and Library. Teachers and Students from various disciplines can avail of this centre for their research purposes. It can also be open to journalists, lawyers, social activists and others who wish to enhance their knowledge on women’s issues.

G) Entrepreneurial Development Skills

Considering the welcome step of Cargo Hub in Nagpur and the acute need for employment and job prospects the centre will encourage various short courses aimed at entrepreneurship development which would help to develop business acumen and various insights of export, import, & cooperatives business. Apart from this the centre will act in coordination with Industry University interaction cell which will enroll women candidates for the appropriate job placement.

H) Coaching Centre for Civil Services examinations:
Honoring the potential and the academic excellence of the students of RTM Nagpur University, the attempts will be made to impart coaching and guidance women candidates to achieve success in their civil services exams through its’ proposed centre.

 Job Opportunities

The value of such courses, apart from helping women to face life in a male dominated society, would be to help them gain employment or take up a profession. Social workers and NGO employees can benefit from these courses. Job opportunities exist in the Social Welfare, Women and Child Welfare and Human Resources Sectors, as well as Para-legal workers in Family Courts and those undertaking such courses could benefit from them. The Ministry of Human Resources is seriously considering starting more Women’s Studies Centres and incorporating Women’s Studies as part of the Curriculum more widely. This would require trained faculty. There are very few Universities offering M.A. in Women’s Studies and Nagpur would be one of the first in Maharashtra to do so and therefore enable students to become future teachers.

Come and join us for your better prospects !