Mindset Change the Basic Strategy for Women Empowerment emphasized by Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra DG, ICAR at ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar based ICAR- Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, had organized a ten days ICAR sponsored Short Course on “Gender Gaps and Interventions to Address Gender Issues in Agriculture” from 17th to 26th September, 2019. It was aimed at reducing gender gaps and identification and addressing of various technical interventions for women farmers. The programme was attended by a total of 25 participants which included Senior Teaching Faculties and Scientists from ICAR Institutes from 11 different states of the country. During the programme discussions on various technological and methodological courses have been taken up in agriculture and allied sectors in addition to field visits and in-house project formulation. All the lectures and presentations emphasized on strengthening gender perspective in various research and extension. The programme was inaugurated on 17.09.2019 by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack as Chief Guest. In his address the participants, he pointed out on the need of women empowerment especially in the field of agriculture as major challenges such as male migration and climate change remains prominent in near future.
In its valedictory function, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Hon'ble Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR New Delhi graced the occasion as Chief Guest. In his address he emphasized on how gender equality and equity can be addressed and mitigated at the family and community level by creating awareness among the various stakeholders. While focussing on the gender mainstreaming, he emphasized that mindset change should be the basic strategy for achieving women empowerment in our society and the change should be fundamental instead of cosmic change. Along with it he also expressed his concern over upliftment of farm women engaged in farming activities including their nutritional and livelihood security be it a family labour or landless hired labour. At the commencement of the valedictory function Dr. S.K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA delivered the welcome speech and, Dr. Lipi Das the Course Director gave detailed insight on the various lectures, classes, exercises and field visits conducted during the short course. Towards the end of the valedictory function, vote of thanks was given by Dr. Ananta Sarkar, while the programme was coordinated by Ms. Gayatri Moharana as Course Coordinators. At last certificates and compendium were distributed to the participants by the Chief Guest.