Uttarakhand women leaders discuss equity & inclusion at empowerment meet
Organized by TOI, PRSI (Public Relations Society of India) Dehradun chapter, and The Loop Project, the event included panel discussions, keynote addresses, and a felicitation ceremony recognising local women leaders.
Iva Srivastava, director of citizen registration (CDR), Uttarakhand, delivered the keynote address. Highlighting the importance of visibility in data, decisions, and dialogue, she stated, "Empowerment begins with recognition; and recognition comes from visibility."
Ravi Bijarnia, president of PRSI Uttarakhand chapter and deputy director of the information department, spoke on the role of media and civil society in amplifying women's voices. He emphasised the importance of partnerships between grassroots movements and communication networks in enabling long-term change.
Two panel discussions explored systemic and legal aspects of women's empowerment. The first, moderated by Ulka Tiwari of Doon Business School, featured Anita Rawat, the first woman to head Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC), Aparna Bahuguna, additional project director with the rural development department, and Tanaya Ahluwalia Nath, co-founder of Shunya India.
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The panelists discussed institutional challenges and strategies for inclusive development in the state.
The second panel, also moderated by Tiwari, focused on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and its implications for women's rights. Aabshar Abbasi, professor at Doon University and advocate Pallavi Ghai of the Dehradun district court discussed legal frameworks and how they intersect with gender justice.
Later, twelve women from across Uttarakhand were felicitated for their work in fields including healthcare, education, arts, and entrepreneurship.
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