As per the Governor's instructions, the Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU) will soon open a Women's Study Center (WSC). This centre will encourage girls and women to pursue higher education, health, self-esteem, economic independence, and the use of technological resources.
Prof Seema Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the state's only open university, stated, “The Center for Women's Studies will reach out to the women and make them aware about the public welfare schemes of the state and central government so as to provide them with the maximum benefits of various government schemes that are especially introduced for them”. Prof Ruchi Bajpai of the department of Hindi, School of Humanities of UPRTOU has been made the convenor of the center, she added.
The VC also told that the purpose of the WSC, which is being established for the first time in the university, is to provide women with the maximum benefits of various government schemes and to provide them with adequate information and practicality of the same.
She stated that the university would use this centre to educate women about the traditional evils that exist in society against them, as well as the life philosophy of successful women.
Prof Singh stated that the university would make an effort to hold workshops in the village and instill a sense of security in women by forming women's safety committees. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the main goal of this centre is to remove the fear of the women of the village so that they can speak out against social evils such as Purdah Pratha and dowry.
“Parents will be motivated to educate their daughters and let them go out of the house. To ensure the future of daughters, the members of the center will try to win their trust by mingling with the women of the houses and motivating them to let their daughters pursue higher learning and stand on their own”, said the first woman VC of UPRTOU.
Prof Singh stated that the newly established centre will organise programmes related to women's development throughout the year, with a focus on issues concerning women's health. The University's health sciences department will also provide assistance in this regard.
This centre will also run an awareness campaign to ensure that children, particularly girls, receive nutritious food. This centre will also provide them with information about women's laws, according to Prabhat Chandra Mishra, the university's media in charge.
