106 Gender Equity “Balancing the Nature- Equality through sustainability” Sustainability through equality is a globally accepted notion that warrants a brighter and healthier future. The studies reveal that people living in societies that are more equal value collective responsibility more. This leads to a host of sustainable practices like responsible use of resources, effective waste management system, more recycling, lesser pollution etc. Societies that promote equality prioritise environmental sustainability and protection. Gender equality is a pre-requisite for this paradigm shift as no society can claim progress or sustainability when half of its population is marginalised. Equality is the pre-condition conceived by the institution as to realise the sustainability goals set forth as its objectives.
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Gender Equity
“Balancing the Nature- Equality through sustainability”
Sustainability through equality is a globally accepted notion that warrants a brighter and
healthier future. The studies reveal that people living in societies that are more equal value
collective responsibility more. This leads to a host of sustainable practices like responsible
use of resources, effective waste management system, more recycling, lesser pollution etc.
Societies that promote equality prioritise environmental sustainability and protection. Gender
equality is a pre-requisite for this paradigm shift as no society can claim progress or
sustainability when half of its population is marginalised. Equality is the pre-condition
conceived by the institution as to realise the sustainability goals set forth as its objectives.
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Women Empowerment
Women empowerment is a mandate as reflected in institutional objective of gender equality.
The institution delineates certain specific objectives as to the realisation of women
empowerment. The specific objectives include empowering women by providing
entrepreneurship training for women from low economic background, motivating women to
improve their quality of life and extending support to enhance the family condition of
underprivileged women. Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all
sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for
development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and
communities.
1. “Vijayeebhava”
The college under the initiative of the MSW Department identified Rajeev Nagar Colony to
extend our services. Based on a study conducted by the students of Bharata Mata College
among the women in Rajeev Nagar colony, it was perceived that providing an entrepreneurial
training to the women would enhance the overall performance of the family. MSW proposed
project to K Chittilapilly foundation which was finally sanctioned. It focuses on the
empowerment of women community, which will herald positive and sustainable social
changes.
“Vijayeebhava” Project Manager of KochaousephChittilappilly foundation addressing the
gathering.
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Sumeeshasherin trained in data entry work Abida in her renovated shop
Rejani and Sajna in front of their shop
Students and teachers of Zoology department providing training to a self-help group at
Rajiv Nagar Colony on „Paper Bag and Paper Pen making‟ which turned out to be a
great impetus towards entrepreneurship
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Training sessions on Tailoring
2. CANDLE UNIT
The institution took initiative to start a candle unit at BethlehemAbhyaBhavan, Koovapady as
part of women empowerment initiatives. The unit is functional since 26th June, 2016.
3. STREET PLAY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Bharata Mata College in collaboration with MSW department and Human rights NGO, Kacheripadi
had collaboratively conducted a street play at Durbar Hall. This street play focused on highlighting
the violence against women with special reference to Jisha Murder Case in Perumbavoor.
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4. BETA- English Training Programme for Anganwadi Teachers
The instituion has been undertaking diverse ways of empowering women that would cater to the
multifaceted needs of women belonging to different strata of the society. Under the aegis of the post
graduate department of English, various basic English Training Certificate programmes have been
conducted over the years for Kudumbasree members and Self-Help groups.
This year 27 Anganwadi teachers from Thrikkakara Municipality were enrolled for the training
programme. It is being conducted with the aim of empowering them by honing and sharpening their
communication skills and thus making them capable of handling their duties towards first time
learners as well as other administrative duties like census gathering etc.
Understanding the transgender community
In the scenario of the severe discrimination, stigma and systematic inequality encountered by
the transgender community, the institution finds it imperative to organize awareness
campaigns to alleviate the stigma and shame suffered by them. Ensuring equality is an
inevitable aspect of sustainable development. The community faces severe harassment on
account of the labelling as socially deviant. As agents of change, the institution under the
initiatives of different departments rallied against the violence against transgender people.
1. Literature, Constitution and Sexual Orientation
The Post Graduate Department of English,organized an orientation talk on Literature,
Constitution and Sexual Orientation: An Analysis on the Implications of the Section 377
Verdict on 15 October,2018. The seminar was a great success with an audience of around 120
participants from different departments. The main objective of the session was to sensitize the
youth on LGBTIQ rights and to educate them about the need to build a more inclusive
society. Mr. JijoKuriakose, founder of Queerala, one of the key organizations for LGBTIQ
rights laid emphasis on the depiction of alternate sexualities in literature and on the
implications of the landmark SC 377 verdict. It was followed by a talk titled,Negotiating
Gender and Sexual Binaries: A Queer Reading of Mainstream Theories by Ms.
RahanaMansoor, Research scholar at Mar ThomaCollege,Thiruvalla who briefed on the
Queer Theory and its application in Literature. These talks opened up new vistas of gender
equity and minority rights, conscientizing the youth on the need for a creative space where
every individual can evolve and succeed in a heteronormative society.
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2. Awareness on Human Rights (09/08/2018)
A wall magazine on Transgender Rights as Human Rights was unvieled and inaugurated by
Dr.Thomas Panakkalam(HoD,Dept.of Malayalam) who enlightened the students about the
transgender rights and its validity in the present scenario.
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3. Legal Protection of Transgender Community
Though steps have been initiated to provide legal protection for transgender community,
the group still face discrimination in terms of gender identity. Department of Social work
organized an open debate with active participation of transgender as part of the World
Human Rights Day observance on the topic “Transgender and the society of Kerala.”
The transgender community described their life of constant struggle for their rights.
Interaction with Transgender Community
“OrupidiMadhuvinu”: Protest campaign for equality
Equality and fellow feeling as a precondition for achieving sustainability is a globally
accepted notion the inaction of which results in severe repercussions in the form of violence
to both human beings and environment. The institution devoted a day for protesting against
the brutal killing of a tribal man, Madhu for a trivial act of satiating his hunger. He was the
victim of an arrogant literate mob who took charge of the law and order of the society. The
protest campaign involved the staff and students of Bharata Mata Collegeto create an
awareness about the need to extend our hand to the needy and deprived.All the students were
asked to bring a hand full of rice and it was collected and was given to a near-by old-age
home. Students also formed a human-chain in seaport-airport road as a protest against the
