8th March, 2021
The International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year to commemorate the unparalleled contributions of women in every sphere of life like arts, culture, medicine, army, education, agriculture, etc., to name a few.
Corresponding to the United Nations theme of the Year - “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, the Council and its Institutes pan India celebrated the day with the theme “International Women's Day: Women Leadership in Agriculture: Entrepreneurship, Equality & Empowerment” to acknowledge the role of women in agriculture.
ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad
The Chief Guest of the occasion, Smt. K. Radha Rani, Project Officer, GHMC, Hyderabad outlined the experiences of different women empowerment programmes undertaken under the different State and Central Government Sponsored Schemes, their success and impacts.
Dr. R.N. Chatterjee. Director, ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad highlighted the significance of ICAR’s theme for the year - “Women Leadership in Agriculture: Entrepreneurship, Equity and Empowerment” and outlined the various responsibilities and contributions of women in agriculture.
The Members of different Women Self Help Groups working on women empowerment also shared their experiences during the occasion.
Women Millets FPO launched by ICAR-Indian Institute Millets Research, Hyderabad
The Institute empanelled as Cluster Based Business Organization with Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India to promote and incubate the Farmers’ Producers’ Organization (FPO) under the New 10,000 FPO Formation Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
To mark the celebrations of International Women’s Day, the Institute welcomed the Board of Directors of the newly incorporated FPO Hulsoor Mahila Kisan Millets Producer Company.
Dr. Vilas A. Tonapi, Director, ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad presented the Certificate of Incorporation to the Members and also launched the Logo for the Company during the occasion. In his address, Dr. Tonapi urged the women members to utilize the facility being created under the company.
ICAR- National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
In his address, the Chief Guest, Dr. B. Meenakumari, Former Chairperson, NBA and Former DDG, ICAR delivered a talk on “Role of Women in Fisheries in India". She highlighted the challenges that women face in all spheres of the Fisheries Sector.
Dr. Manisha Narayan, Deputy Director, Food Safety and Standards Association of India, Northern Region delivered a Talk on the Eat Right India Movement which focused mainly on eating safe, healthy and sustainable.
Dr. Devika Pillai, Professor & Head, Aquatic Animal Health Management Department, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala also participated in the event. She delivered a Talk on "Women Empowerment in Fisheries: The present status and the way forward" focusing mainly on the efforts made by Kerala state in empowering women through mussel culture, Biofloc and other SHGs like Kudumbasree and Theeramaithri.
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
The Institute organized a series of programmes as a part of celebrations for the International Women’s Day - 2021.
Dr B.P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-IVRI, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh enlightened about the upcoming issues and initiatives for women empowerment across the globe. He motivated the women faculties, students, staff and the women farmers to develop leadership skills and gear the family, their community and the society towards development.
The five-day long celebrations included Plantation of Saplings by the Institute’s Women Scientists, Girl Students and Female Staff Members. Around 5 Women Farmers were felicitated for their outstanding achievements in agriculture and animal husbandry sector and their significant contribution towards women empowerment and leadership in the society during the occasion.
More than 150 women and girls participated in the programme.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
The Institute felicitated around 10 Progressive Women Farmers from Raipur Block, Thano, Dehradun, Uttarakhand for their noteworthy contributions in the field of agriculture and entrepreneurship under the Farmer’s FIRST Programme on the occasion of the International Women’s Day - 2021.
In his address, Dr. R.S. Yadav, Director, ICAR-IISWC, Dehradun, Uttarakhand encouraged the women farmer’s for achieving more in their respective endeavours. He urged that with self-belief and confidence, everything becomes achievable; but we should have patience till we get success.
ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana, Punjab
Dr. (Mrs.) Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Director (Students Welfare), Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab stressed on creating more social, economic and political awareness among the women folks.
Earlier, Dr. Rajbir Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana, Punjab briefed about the various activities carried out by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Zone - I for the empowerment of farm women.
Dr. Kuldip Singh, Head, Department of Extension Education & Communication Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab highlighted the importance of women’s role in the development of society. He encouraged women to join the skill development programmes organized by the University especially for the farm women.
ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Dr. Sanghamitra Pati, Director, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR-RMRC), the Chief Guest of the occasion delivered a Lecture on “COVID-19 crisis management in Odisha”. She also highlighted the symptoms, risk factors, principles of diagnosis, types of COVID-19 tests and molecular platforms for its diagnosis. She emphasized on the importance of sero-surveys in Odisha and the pivotal role played by the ICMR-RMRC in testing the samples and undertaking the advanced research to find out the epidemiology, diversity, immune response, diagnostics and therapeutics related to COVID-19.
Smt. Vidya Das, Joint Director, “AGRAGRAMEE”, a leading NGO shared her experiences about the difficulties faced by the unorganized women in different states. She also shared her experiences of working for the women’s economic development in Odisha.
Ms. Mamata Samantaray, Chairperson, State Progressive Women‘s Forum graced the function as Chief Guest. She spoke about the significance of International Women’s Day and the challenges being faced by women in today’s society. She encouraged all the women participants to take a pledge on this International Women’s Day to become empowered women.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. P. Das, Director of the Institute outlined the number of sponsored projects carried out by the Institute with women as beneficiaries. He emphasized on the Institute’s contributions in empowering women through aquaculture.
ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Uttarakhand
The Institute observed the International Women’s Day - 2021 in both of its Campuses at Almora (Offline Mode) and Hawalbagh (Virtual Mode).
Dr. Lakshmi Kant, Director, ICAR-VPKAS, Almora, Uttarakhand acknowledged the eminent roles of women in the fields of hill agriculture. He highlighted the importance of balance between rights and responsibilities of women in the society.
ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology, Ludhiana, Punjab
To commemorate the occasion and celebrate the theme, 5 successful women entrepreneurs trained by the Institute were felicitated.
Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director of the Institute applauded the women workforce engaged in technology development, dissemination and commercial exploitation.
ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad
The Academy has organized a 3-day Virtual Training Programme on “Leadership Development for Women Scientist in NARES” from 8th to 10th March, 2021 to mark the celebrations of the International Women’s Day - 2021.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of the Academy emphasized on the United Nations theme of International women’s Day - 2021 - “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal future in a COVID-19”.
The occasion also marked the release of a Booklet entitled “Women led Agri-start-ups: Courage to Innovate for Change”.
During the Panel Discussion on “Women and Governance”, Dr. Neelam Grewal, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Kashi University, Bhatinda, Punjab; Dr. Meena Kumari, Former Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR and Dr. Kalpana Sastry, Former JD shared their stories being in governance to set examples for the participants to follow.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
Dr. D. Subramanyam, Director of the Institute highlighted the significance of celebrating the International Women’s Day and acknowledged the contributions of women scientists, administrative and finance personnel in Institutional building.
Around 20 Farm Women from the Mancherial District of Telangana are participating in the three-day Institutional Training Programme on “Improved Rice Production Technologies for Farm Women” under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan Programme sponsored by the ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad.
ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr. (Smt.) Sujata Saxena, Director of the Institute stated that every woman must reflect upon the struggles she underwent and achievements she got and think of the ways by which she can further contribute to the development of herself, her family, workplace and society.
The occasion marked the release of a Book entitled “Empowering Women Leadership through Agri Start-ups: CIRCOT-R-ABI Initiative” to mark the achievements of women agri-entrepreneurs enrolled with ICAR-CIRCOT-R-ABI.
Around 150 participants virtually participated in the programme.
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad
The Institute organized a three-day Training Programme for Women Farmers in Sustainable Rice Production under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan Programme.
Dr. V.K Singh, Director of the Institute highlighted the increasing participation of women farmers in the agriculture and allied sectors. He encouraged the women farmers to take-up entrepreneurial activities in agriculture also.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad
In her address, Dr. M. Sujatha, Director, ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad emphasized on the need of encouraging women farmers as entrepreneurs and exploring different options for popularization of edible oil products of sesame, linseed and safflower.
The Institute organized a wide array of different cultural and mind-engaging activities like Quiz Competition and Just a Minute (JAM) Debates, etc., for all the Women Scientists, SRFs, Technical and Students highlighting the women leaders in different fields varying from sports to politics, etc.
Ms. P. Kondaveeti Satyavati, Director, Bhumika Women’s Collective, an NGO outlined the activities conducted for extending help to women in distress through a 24-Hours Helpline run by the Centre.
About 30 members participated in both the competitions.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Ranchi, Jharkhand
The Institute and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khunti jointly organized the International Women Day on 8th March, 2021.
The Chief Guest of the programme, Sister Marilena F, Director, Torpa Rural Development Society stressed that the women not only play a key role in livelihood security, but also are the pillars of the social fabric.
The Guest of Honor, Dr. Seema Dey, Associate Professor, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand expressed her deep concern over the social evils affecting adversely the life of women, especially, in the rural areas.
Dr. Kewal Krishna Sharma, Director of the Institute regarded women as the foundation of the society. The Director urged for providing them with the sufficient avenues of progress to prosper.
ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi
In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR & National Director (National Agricultural Higher Education Project) emphasized on the role of women in the various work areas and regarded them as the torch bearers and path breakers for others. The DDG highlighted the women farmers’ contributions for saving the genetic and agro-biodiversity.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Rajender Parsad, Director, ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi highlighted the percentage of women scientists and girl students in ICAR and Deemed Universities. He emphasized that persistent, perspiration and consistent efforts are the key factors for accelerating the pace of achieving the goals.
The event registered a total participation by 109 participants.
(Source: Respective ICAR Institutes)
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