365Telugu.com online news,Hyderabad, 10th March, 2024: BITS Pilani Hyderabad, renowned for innovation, embarked on an empowering week dedicated to celebrating women ahead of International Women’s Day. The campus hosted various activities aimed at uplifting its female members, with pivotal involvement and contribution from women across faculty, students, staff, and community helpers. The success of these initiatives is credited to the leadership of Prof. P. Yogeeswari, Dean of Administration, and her team.
Women’s Week kicked off with a unique (W/T)alk-athon that invited faculty and staff families of all ages to walk, chat, interact and compete for exciting prizes. This was followed by a DJ night exclusively for staff and community members that fostered camaraderie and fun among attendees.
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Women’s Week offered a vibrant celebration of empowerment and solidarity involving 1050 female students, 112 staff and 143 external staff. A special highlight of the celebrations was the visit of the honorable Smt. Dr. Tamilisai Soundarajan,Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry (surcharge) to the campus. During the women’s week, dignitaries from various fields including Mrs. Saina Nehwal (Indian badminton player), Smt. Tanaz Irani (Bollywood Actress and Motivational Speaker), Smt. Shilpa Reddy (Fashion Designer), Ms. P Anvitha (Mount Everest Climber), Abhilasha Bisht (Director Telangana State IPS Police Academy) and Dr. Tarun Joshi (IPS), Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda Security Council. Their presence enriched the event with their observations and experiences.
In keeping with commitment to education and empowerment, two keynote lectures were presented as part of Women’s Week. “Through the Gender Lens for a Balanced World” addressed the students, while the PoSH (Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment) information session aimed to raise awareness and create a safer environment for all external workers. Both sessions, led by Dr. Sowjanya Tamalapakulou in collaboration with the Internal Complaints Committee, was well received.
As part of the celebration of Women’s Week, an exclusive event was organized in the presence of Dr. Sunithy Sekhar Reddy, MBBS, MD, highly respected dermatologist/cosmetologist from Hyderabad. This event has been specially designed for all faculty and staff. Dr. Reddy brought extensive expertise in various fields including hair treatment, acne treatment, skin care and skin treatment.
Another aspect of the event was the “Kickbox Self Defense Workshop!” led by Mr. Shaik Kalid, Coach of Team India from MMA India. This workshop, in collaboration with NSS, allowed participants to learn invaluable self-defense techniques. In addition, renowned dermatologist/cosmetologist Dr. Sunitha Sekhar Reddy graced our campus to share her hair and skin care expertise exclusively for faculty and staff.
A panel discussion of women from the US Embassy addressed the enlightening discussion about the cultural differences between Indian and American women. Other fun activities were organized for female employees to promote an environment of laughter and camaraderie. The climax of the week was an inspiring lecture by renowned gynecologist Padmashree Dr. Manjuly Anaganiova.
BITS Pilani is a champion of diversity and inclusivity, with 37% of the total enrollment in postgraduate and doctoral programs being women. Additionally, 23% of the teaching staff and 16% of the non-teaching staff of BITS Pilani (PHGD-Campuses) are women. The university supports women-led businesses and nurtures more than 34 startups led by visionary women.
Collaborative efforts such as the ‘Womenpreneurs for Bharat 1.0’ programme, in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Entrepreneurship Platform and supported by the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, are driving innovation in tier 2/3/4 cities, including regions like North East, Rajasthan, Haryana and Jammu and Cashmere. Women hold key roles on judging panels and serve as leadership mentors, with more than 40 women lending their expertise to nurture the next generation of innovators.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Soumyo Mukherji, Director, BITS Pilani Hyderabad said, “In celebrating the resilience and achievements of women, we honor their unwavering spirit and determination. Their success is a testament to their perseverance, and we are committed to empowering them every step of the way. The spirit of empowerment and unity shines brightly in every event and activity, reflecting the ethos of BITS Pilani Hyderabad’s commitment to the advancement and welfare of women. “
Apart from entrepreneurship, BITS Pilani boasts of a plethora of outstanding women scientists such as Prof Swati Biswas, Prof Yogeeswari, Prof Ruchi Jain, Prof Arti Dhar, Prof Ponnalagu RN of EEE, Prof Nandini Bhandaru of ChemE and Prof Anasua Guharay of Civil Engineering, whose contributions further strengthen the institution’s position as a beacon of pioneering research and innovation in science.