The Psychological/ Career counselling and Placement Cells along with Women development Committee organised a seminar on the theme “Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Women- A Step Towards their Empowerment” on the 25th of March 2021. The programme was attended by Mrs Rajni Saraf – Chief Financial Officer, J&K Bank; Mr. Mohd. Ashraf Wani – Managing Director, SESTI Pvt. Limited; & Mr. Rouf Ahmad Khan, Assistant Faculty, JKEDI, besides, all the faculty members and students of the college were present on the occasion.
B.A. Gamgeen moderated the proceedings.
Welcome Address
The welcome address was delivered by hon’ble Principal, Dr. Syed Tanvir Indrabi. He formally welcomed the guests.
In his succinct but insightful remarks Dr. Indrabi threw some light on different aspects of women empowerment. He remarked that past atrocities committed on women were largely due to lack of education. Hon’ble Principal exhorted that women are highly capable to face the challenges of the world & education is the most powerful weapon to empower them for the same. He rightly remarked that education of children is a collective responsibility of both the state and parents. It reminds us of the 19th century English Philosopher J.S. Mill who had said: “.…. If the government would make up its mind to require for every child a good education, it might save itself the trouble of providing one”. It requires an enabling hand from the government to finance the education of the weaker sections of the society.
Keynote address was delivered by Mrs Rajni Saraf
Madam Saraf highlighted the fact that not many women are working in the position of Chief Financial Officer in this part of the world. She insisted on the fact that nothing is impossible for women; all you need is passion and perseverance to do something. Empowerment of women is a constant endevour. She said that entrepreneurship is doing the business in a smart way. She exhorted students to make use of the information technology for creative ideas. She suggested a number of ways and means for becoming a successful entrepreneur in Kashmir. A Kashmiri entrepreneur can make full use of natural resources like forest products, make jewelry designs from papier-mâché, designing & developing different mehndi products etc. For this J&K bank is providing concessional loans to the aspiring women entrepreneurs. She enriched her speech by providing examples of a few successful women entrepreneurs like Shahnaz Husain (herbal products) & Mrs Bector (Cremica biscuits).
Later on, n the presence of the worthy principal, Dr Tanvir Indrabi, Mrs Rajni Saraf also inaugurated the Skill development centre at GDC Khansahib . Speaking to the media, she further reiterated that women are already empowered and strong, however, the society needs to change the stereotypical perspectives towards women.
The NSS Volunteers of the college and the staff were also distributed certificates by the worthy principal.
Report Prepared by Dr. Sajad Padder.
(Edited by Publicity and Media In charge)