National Seminar on “Gender and Disability” at PU

Chandigarh, March 27, 2019: The inaugural session of the two day national seminar on “Gender and Disability”organised by Department of Community Education and Disability Studies, Panjab University Chandigarh started with the welcome address by Dr.DazyZarabi,Chairperson of the department. She discussed the objectives of the National seminar and welcomed the delegates from different states. Mrs.RajinderKaur, Deputy Director, Adult Education Department Chandigarh Administration and member CCPCR highlighted that people with disability in general are denied many rights like those of a love, spouse,parent and so on. Dr.Jitender Grover, Dean Faculty of Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh delivered the presidential address wherein he stressed that Gender and Disability are both a state of mind. It was also emphasized that lack of proper infrastructure makes a person ask for help which also affects their self esteem. Dr.Kuldip Singh Principal, Panjab University Constituent College, Nihal Singh Wala, Moga brought out that a woman is not born, she moves from being girl to be a woman through societal practices. He also said woman need to protect their kind.He gave example of Amrita Pritam and DalipkaurTiwana from Punjabi literature. He very boldly highlighted some facts of our society which people practised but don’t talk about. Dr. B.S Chavan, Director Principal, GMCH Sector- 32 Chandigarh is actively working for protecting the rights of women and disabled children. He has setup homes for the disabled and homeless girl/women across Chandigarh,Aavas and Aashreya are two such places. He presented a report of initiatives taken by GRIID, Sector- 31, Chandigarh for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in Chandigarh. Later the Panel Discussion on Sociological, Economic, Political, Policy and Legal Perspectives of Gender and Disability was held which had panelistsDr.S K Prasad: Deputy Chief Commissioner, Office of the Chief Commissioner for persons with disabilities, New Delhi, Prof. Raj Kumari Gupta: Department of Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Dr.Priti Arun: Joint Director, GRIID, Sector 31, Chandigarh, Prof. SangitaBhalla: University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Dr.Ameer Sultana: Assistant ProfessorDepartment cum Centre for Women’s Studies & Development, Panjab University, Chandigarh.