Ganderbal, March 14: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah said Tuesday that teaching digital skills among women and girls around the world, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, is important for their holistic Growth, its development and its totality has become essential empowerment.
“There is a huge digital divide between men and women that needs to be addressed immediately by making state-of-the-art electronic devices and smartphones available to women,” he said, while emphasizing the “digital empowerment” of women and girls during his inaugural address the Digital Empowerment and Women’s Development event organized by the University’s Women Empowerment Committee to commemorate International Women’s Day under the auspices of India’s G20 Presidency. The CUK vice-chancellor said fully empowering women is a distant dream if women are kept away from advances in information technology.
Chancellor, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Dean School of Life Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Yousuf, Experts, Prof. Asifa Jan, from University of Kashmir, Dr. Asifa, Dean Students Welfare IUST, Director Center for West Himalayan (IUST), Prof. Pirzada Ameen, WEC, Chair Prof. Parveen Pandit, other committee members, faculty, scholars and students were also present on the occasion
On that occasion, Chancellor Prof. M Afzal Zargar underlined the need to provide women and girls with easy digital access and availability in order to give them a level playing field with their male counterparts. “In this digital age, where technological advances and smartphones are making things easier in all aspects and areas of life, women should be allowed to access the gadgets and use the social media platforms to share in the digital revolution to benefit and share their secrets of talent,” said Prof. Zargar. He said women have played a significant role in the development of families and have been successful in balancing work and domestic responsibilities.
At the gathering, WEC Chair Prof. Parveen Pandit said the WEC had been at the forefront of organizing awareness programs for female students about their rights and suggesting ways and actions to help them deal with the problems and challenges at home and at work encounter . She said the aim of organizing the International Women’s Day commemoration programs is to provide a platform for female students to share their thoughts, ideas and innovations related to women’s empowerment. She also expressed her concern at the increasing cases of violence against women in the country.
The secretary of the WEC member, Dr. Himabindu, led the opening procedure of the program, while Ms. Gulafroz Jan, as a WEC member, proposed the vote of thanks.
Afterwards, the experts, including Prof. Asifa Jan from the University of Kashmir, spoke about “Women’s Development in Global Scenario”, Dr. Asifa, Dean Students Welfare IUST, spoke on “Gender and Artificial Intelligence”, Director Center for West Himalayan (IUST ), Prof. Pirzada Ameen, discussed “Women and Society: Declining Trends of Sex Ratio”.
University officials, including Dr. Abid Ahmad, HoD Biotechnology also spoke on “Metabolic Disorders Associated with Women: Challenges and Responses”, He. Afaq Alam, Coordinator, IT Department, spoke on “The Role of IT in Digital Empowerment”, Dr. Mir Insha Farooq, ICC, President, spoke on “Women and Challenges at Work”. WEC Members, DR. Ibraq Khursheed, Ms. Saima Bashir and Dr. Sakina Ali were also present.
