NewZNew (Chandigarh) : To commemorate International Women’s Day and World Social Work Day, State Urban Poverty Alleviation Cell, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh organized one day seminar-cum-training workshop on Urban Community Development for its indigenously devised social bodies “Community Development Societies today at Ch. Devi Lal Centre for Learning, Sector 28, Chandigarh.
Community Development Societies are active bodies of SUPA devised under Social Mobilization & Institutional Development (SM&ID) Component of National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) in various rehabilitated colonies and urban slums of Chandigarh. These bodies comprised of at least 11 members from local colony/community and has hierarchical model with President, General Secretary, Cashier and members. 14 such Community Development Societies (CDS) participated with their full strength in this one day seminar.
Mrs. Poonam Sharma, Mayor of Chandigarh presided over the beginning and the end of a whole day programme. She, in her initial address emphasized on women empowerment through internal strengthening of women’s heart. Women awareness on their rights and as well as their duties can only justify their role in development of a particular community or society as a whole. She shared examples on her experiences and shared her legal knowledge towards women rights.
Sh. Vivek Trivedi, Social Development Officer, National Urban Livelihood Mission, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh also addressed the participants and very actively coordinated the workshop on women social issues post lunch. In his address, he shared his department’s vision to strengthen the Community Development Societies through high level training programmes and workshops, this was the first step towards vision shared for this financial year. Guest of honor of the event was Mr. Kaishav Baijal, DGM, Union Bank of India also addressed the audience and expressed his gratitude towards Mayor, SUPA team and MCC for working towards women empowerment through Community Development Societies.
During the whole day, various speakers who are expert in their fields provided their precious time to impart knowledge on human rights, women health issues, cleanliness, distance education and financial literacy. Namely the speakers were Dr. Him Bala, NRHM; Sh. Gurdayal Singh, FLCC; Dr. Namita Gupta, Human Rights Dept. Panjab University; Mrs. Kamlesh, Ex.-Mayor & Chairperson Social Welfare Board; Dr. Manmeet Kaur, School of Public Health; Dr. J.K. Yadav, IGNOU and Mr. Manoj Teotia, CRRID.
Mrs Archana Verma, Educationist along with Mayor, Mrs Poonam Sharma concluded the workshop by expressing their feelings about the active sharing of workshop empirical data (on women right, poverty, health and development etc.) by various representatives of all CDS present. The one day seminar cum workshop ended with holi celebrations of community workers with Hon’ble Mayor and dignitaries.
