Women's Cell
The Constitution of India ensures the Right to Equality as a Fundamental Right that includes the right to equality before law, prohibition of discrimination and equality of opportunities in matters of public employment. Equality between men and women, right to work, to education and to public assistance in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and provision of just and humane conditions for work and maternity relief, are important Directive Principles of State Policy. The Women’s Cell of the Pondicherry University was established in March, 2012 to address the practical issues related to the welfare of and equal opportunities for Women faculty members, staff and students. It has a mandate to address primarily
* Special facilities and needs (of the Women faculty members, staff and students of the Pondicherry university)
* Problems arising out of gender related discrimination.
The Pondicherry University Women’s Cell has been also mandated to organize
* Awareness meetings and seminars
* Outings to promote networking
The Pondicherry University Women’s cell collaborates with the Centre for Women’s Studies, its academic counterpart established in 1999 with the aim of the creation of a critical awareness and sensitivity towards women’s issues in every field. The theoretical teaching and research in Women’s Studies as an academic discipline is strengthened by the Women’s Cell a practical functionary of the Pondicherry University to ensure the welfare of the community of women in the University campus.
The women’s cell of the Pondicherry University is a counseling cum redressal centre for the women members of the campus who report grievances related to gender bias and discrimination
To provide information regarding support services in the campus.
To advise complainants of the informal and formal means of resolution of grievances as specified by the cell.
To ensure the fair and timely resolution of grievances
To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives that encourages and fosters a respectful work and learning environment.
The cell is committed to achieve these objectives through:
1. Dissemination of information:
The cell disseminates information on what are the protective and welfare measures available for women especially at the institutional level, what constitutes sexual harassment at the workplace and how to deal with it mainly through its web portal and also through the distribution of printed materials and handouts.
2. Consciousness-raising workshops:
The cell proposes to conduct effective orientation and sensitization programmes for faculty, non-teaching staff and students. The aim is to develop a congenial atmosphere of mutual learning.
3. Counseling:
Confidential counseling service is important as it provides a safe space to speak about issues and incidents and how they have affected them.
4. Awareness through extra-curricular activities:
The cell conducts activities like debating competition, essay competition, poster competition, etc. inorder to raise awareness.
5. Guest/extension lectures:
Lectures of eminent personalities from NGOs, civil authorities, academicians and experts working in the area will be arranged from time to time.
- Prof. V. Indumathi, Professor and Head, Department of Mathematics, was the first Head of the Women’ cell at its inception on 20. 04. 2012,
- Followed by Prof. Priya Davidar, Professor, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences who took over the headship of the cell on 02. 07. 2012.
- Prof. G. Chandhrika, Professor and Head, Department of History took over as Head, Women’s Cell on 04.03.2013
- Dr. Sudha Sitharaman, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Pondicherry University on 23.03.2016
- Dr. R. Nalini, Centre Head, Centre for Women Studies, Pondicherry University on 06.04.2018.
- Dr. H. Kalpana, Professor & H.O.D, Department of English, Pondicherry University on 22.06.2020
- Dr. Kiruthika, Dept. of Statistics, Pondicherry University on 18.11.2022.
The present office bearers
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Representatives o Women’s Cell
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- https://www.ncwwomenhelpline.in/
- http://wcd.nic.in/
- http://ncw.nic.in/
- http://ncw.nic.in/frmLLawsRelatedtoWomen.aspx
- http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/
- http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/themes/gender-equality/
- http://www.facilitatorsguide.dk/presentations.html
- http://meghpol.nic.in/Char_SexualHarassment.pdf
