In the era of globalization, 'Empowerment of Women' has become one of the most important tools in the development of a nation. Owing to this view, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) will organize a two-day conference on 'Women of SAARC: Partners in Development' on March 30, 2009. The conference will focus on empowering the women of eight countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is also the founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, will deliver the inaugural speech at the seminar commencing on March 30.
The goal of the conference is to enhance cooperation and form partnerships among various groups in South Asia for the upliftment of women in the areas of education, environment, livelihoods, literature, health, crafts and law. Four centers of Jamia will organize the event: the Academy of Third World Studies, Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women's Studies and Outreach Programme. SAARC's literature and writers will be its external partner. 'Despite the illiteracy and poverty, women of this region have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the nation,' said Prof. Janki Ranjan of the Department of Education at Jamia and Head of the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women's Studies. She explained, 'SAARC countries have often adopted the Gandhian way to fight. Now its time to highlight the role of women in the nation building.'
