Jain (Deemed-to-be University) Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Education (CERSSE) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) organized a two-day conference on ‘Gender Parity and Governance: Prospects and Challenges’.
It was held at Jain (Deemed-to-be University) CMS Business School Campus from 8th to 9th of February, 2020. The conference was inaugurated by Mr. Peter Rimmele, Resident Representative of the KAS, New Delhi in presence of several eminent dignitaries of Jain (Deemed-to-be University) namely - Dr. NVH Krishnan, Registrar and Dr. Sandeep Shastri, Pro Vice chancellors, and Dr. Priyanca Mathur, Associate Professor.
They were joined by the Conference Convener in welcoming all the delegates which comprised of three leading academics of our country as plenary speakers namely Dr. Manjari Katju, Professor, Department of Politics, University of Hyderabad, Dr. Rekha Saxena, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of New Delhi and Dr. Rajeshwari Deshpande, Professor, Department of Politics and Administration, Savitribai Phule University of Pune. The valedictory session was led by Prof. Sanjay Kumar, Director, Centre of the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi.
Spanning over two days, more than 20 academic papers were presented by professors, students from reputed Universities and institutions across the country like O.P. Jindal University, Haryana, South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, Mohanlal Sukhadiya University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, Assam University and University of Kalyani, Nadia and many colleges from Mysuru as well as people from Media. Leading Professors, research scholars and students from Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore University, St. Joseph’s College and Presidency College also contributed to the discussion.
This enriching event reflected on the learnings from the rich academic sessions wherein the importance of bringing the gender angle in all levels of governance was reiterated, be it the macro levels of federalism, judicial norms or within institutions and socio-political processes. The challenges of continuing patriarchal structures that perpetuate gender inequality, the gendering of safe city spaces, the ‘silent vote’ of women in politics, and the ‘panopticon’ of surveillance systems were amongst the host of other issues discussed and deliberated on.