In a first of its kind initiative, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked Universities from across the state to hold programmes and activities during the Women's week i.e. March 1-7 and on Women's Day i.e. March 8.
Further, the colleges and universities will have to prepare reports and record the programmes and upload it on the UGC portal. The notice was issued to all universities on Friday, February 28 wherein the UGC secretary Rajnish Jain stated that all universities and their affiliated colleges are requested to undertake activities a week prior to International Women’s Day. Moreover, the activities must focus on gender sensitisation, equality, women’s health, education, empowerment, safety and security.
These should include workshops, lectures, quiz competitions, debates, street-plays, marathon, walkathon, cyclothon, cultural events or any suitable activities based on the above themes. As stated in the Hindustan Times, in a bid to increase the representation of women in higher education, the apex body governing higher educational institutes has announced three fellowships and scholarships for women researchers.
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In its recent budget, the State Government stated that it is taking strong steps to curb the atrocities committed against women. A team led by State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh went to Andhra Pradesh to study the Disha Act.
The committee is expected to formulate a draft law and submit a report on the same. Under the ‘Disha’ Act or Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, the investigation time predicted to complete is 7 days and trial in 14 working days.
Due to this Act passed by Andhra Pradesh government, the total judgment time reduces to 21 days from the existing four months. The Act was brought in to provide speedy trial and awarding of the death penalty for crimes against women and children.
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