MANUU to change gender-biased mindset

We need a society where women have a complete right to express their issues and problems," Meenakshi Gopinath, a member of UGC and Principal, Lakshmi Shivam College, New Delhi said, while delivering a keynote in a open forum conducted by PADASH (Policy against Discrimination and Sexual Harassment) a committee for resisting sexual harassment, at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. PADASH organised a free platform to express various gender related issues which are faced by the students, a press note said. According to the release, the open forum aimed to 'sensitise' students on the gender issue and thereby enable them to develop suitable capabilities, 'in order to stand up against odds or similar such situations in future'. Dr Shahida one of the member in PADASH committee, who presided over the forum, said the idea behind the whole exercise is to take the awareness about issues of safety to the next level. "We will be dealing with sexual abuse and other forms of abuse through this. The idea is to evolve a very serious methodology to deal with the situation in an effective manner." The forum also taken up the campaign as they felt that men should know women's perspective on various issues so as to change the overall mindset towards gender. Fear of societal pressure and projection of women as sex objects must stop, Shahida said. Number of Students expressed their opinion on discrimination and suggested remedies to solve gender related issues before the committee. A large number of students, teachers and other officials were present.