Bhubaneswar: The Central University Of Odisha, Koraput, in a special programme organised at the varsity campus, Sunabeda to celebrate International Women’s Day-2020, felicitated three eminent women and one woman student, for their outstanding contribution to the society.
The programme, organised on March 6, with the theme “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”, was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of CUO, Prof. I. Ramabrahmam, who felicitated the three eminent women and the student of CUO.
They are: ‘Nari Shakti Swaroopa’, ‘Adarsh Mahila’ awardee and ‘Mothers on Wheel’ fame Madhuri Sahasrabudhe; ‘Prakruti Mitra’, Parab Samman-2019’ awardee and tribal woman leader and environmentalist of Koraput district, Radha Pandia; social activist and eminent academic Pronoti Deb from Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) and awardee of the best Supporting Actress by Odisha State Film Awards (Film-Pheria), Shivani Khara, first year student of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The women shared their experiences and views with the gathering.
Radha Pandia spoke about her struggle while organising the village women to protect the village forests in 1999. She related how she started protecting village forests, framed rules for community forest management, sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest produces, preventing forest fires and poaching of wild animals.
Madhuri Saharabudhe highlighted the need for generation equality and role of a mother in promoting family values. She shared her personal journey from Delhi to London as a part of her “Mothers on Wheel” mission, recollecting the overwhelming response that has been received on this self-driven road journey covering 23657 kilometres and 20+ countries, meeting and discussing with mothers from a wide range of cultures. She also shared her working towards a second ‘Mothers on Wheels’ trip through South East Asia and Australia. She motivated the students to work for the betterment of the society.
Students and staff from some neighbouring colleges like Semiliguda College also participated in the programme and shared their views on the theme.
Prizes and certificates were also awarded to the winners of the Essay Writing competitions in English, Hindi and Odia languages,
