Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Nagpur Regional Centre celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021. It was celebrated under Innovationclub@rcnagpur and the Regional Centre Committee against Sexual Harassment (RC CASH) through a webinar entitled ‘Role of IGNOU Education in My Empowerment’ IGNOU Women Students’ Experiences. IGNOU women students from all across the region, including those from Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Yavatmal, Akola, Nanded, Parbhani and Amravati districts participated.
The Webinar started with the welcome address by Dr P Sivaswaroop, IGNOU Regional Director, Nagpur. He extended greetings to all the women and said that in spite of various limitations, women achieve many things. In this webinar IGNOU women students are invited to share their experiences of the problems they faced and the role of IGNOU education played in empowering them to overcome the problems and moving forward towards their chosen goal.
Dr Hema Pant, Chairperson, RSD CASH, IGNOU, New Delhi, spoke about women’s day and objectives of RSD CASH. Dr Jyotsna Dikshit, NCIDE, IGNOU, New Delhi explained the innovation clubs of IGNOU and their activities. Dr Naqui Siddiqui of Institute of Science, Nagpur and member of IGNOU RC CASH Nagpur spoke on women empowerment.
16 students from different districts with varied backgrounds shared their experiences of how IGNOU education helped them for empowerment. Dr Kavita Gupta, who did MSCDFSM from IGNOU followed by Ph.D from Nagpur University said that every woman has a dream and they need support and wings to fly. She said IGNOU gave her wings and today she achieved Ph.D and contributing a lot.
Parthavi did Post Graduate Diploma in Analytical Chemistry from IGNOU said IGNOU courses are very economical. By attending classes one can learn whole world as IGNOU students are from variety of background and that itself is empowering. Amrit Walia who did MAPC and now working as counsellor said that IGNOU gives excellent support to the student at Regional Centre and also in Study Centre.
Sudha Madhuri said that her family education diploma helped her to counsel effectively her own kids and school children where she worked. Pranoti Khadatkar did BA English and now studying MA English. She will be appearing for UGC NET shortly.
Dilnar Noshir Randelia who did MA English and MA History from IGNOU felt that IGNOU study material is excellent and easy to understand. Kalpana Lade from Gadchiroli, who is ZP school teacher, completed BED and BSC through IGNOU said that these two degrees through IGNOU, helped her to teach Science subject effectively to her students.
Meena Manohar Abhyankar from Dharni Amravati district (from Melghat Tribal Region) shared that during Covid-19 IGNOU conducted online classes and she learned how to attend online classes. Even her mother and mother in law also came to know how online classes go on.
Aditi Rishikesh Pohare, MAPC student from Akola said that the study material was very useful and even for a non psychological background student, it is clear. During Corona lockdown all the students formed a Whatsapp Group and studying collaboratively. Manisha Varade from Akola who did MSCDFSM said that after 12 years of marriage she joined MSCDFSM and completed. Today she gives talks on Nutrition in schools and other groups. She stated IGNOU gives not only education but also confidence and complete personality.
Rewali Koturwar from Pandharkawada, Yavatmal (Tribal Area) in her English speech said that the Certificate in Functional English course made her preparation for competitive exams easy and she feels confidence in English usage. Deepali Akolkar from Nanded said that because of IGNOU she is able to earn and stand on her own feet. It gives herself respect that she is not dependent.
Ashakiran Thakur said that she did MSW through IGNOU and wants to changeover from Clerk to Officer as she is now eligible to apply for Officer Post. Shreeja Nair who completed BPP, BA English, and now in MA English 2nd year said that she was married after her SSC and shifted to Parbhani, a small town in Maharashtra. Her dreams to educate herself were realised through IGNOU and now employed in a reputed school. She says IGNOU has empowered her. Reena Jose from Parbhani also has a similar story and she also works as a teacher after her BPP-BA-MA.
Dr Sivaswaroop in a concluding remark said that these ‘Live’ examples prove that women should have their goals and targets and to achieve them they need to be educated. IGNOU education gives them wings to fly and reach their goals. Dr. Sasicoumar Brumot, ARD proposed a vote of thanks. Dr Tasneem Anjum, Dr Shakti Sharma, Dr Milli Baby, Santosh Sanganwar, Dr Y Venkateshwarlu, Chandrashekhar Rajgure, and Rajesh Wasnik contributed to the success of the webinar.
