Considering the continuous reports of dowry deaths in Kerala, in the last few days, Women’s cell (2020-2022) of NSS Training College, Ottapalam, organized a panel discussion on the topic “Sthreedhana Maranagal; Utharavaadhi Aaru?” (Dowry deaths; Who is responsible?) on 25th June, 2021, on the google meet platform. The session started at 8 am and continued till 9 am. It was indeed an in depth talk where almost 170 students from B. Ed and M. Ed. participated. The session started with prayer and aacharyaanusmaranam. The welcome speech was done by Women’s cell student coordinator Ms. Meghana V from first year B.Ed. There were a total seven persons on the speaker’s panel; Abdul Rahman (1st year B. Ed. English), Sruthi K Kumar (M.Ed.), Sreekala (1st year B.Ed. Natural Science), Silfa Anna Joy (1st year B.Ed. Physical Science), Sujitha T ( M.Ed.), Anjitha P (1st year B.Ed. Malayalam) and Reshma T ( 1st year B. Ed. Maths). Women’s Cell member Ms. Saranya P was the moderator. The talk started by expressing views on this issue, by each person, who were in the panel. Once this was done moderator welcomed the participants’ views on this regard. Thoughts, views and opinions shared by both students and faculties made the discussion more fruitful. The one-hour session which discussed the socio- cultural and economic aspects of this particular problem of dowry went on marvellously by the active participation of both students and faculties; Dr. Sankaranarayanan Paleeri, Dr. Mridula K and Dr. Seema Menon K P ( Women's cell coordinator). It was a discussion which was to the point and was highly critical of the existing dowry system, outdated customs, ineffective law, social fear, gender roles and some general patterns of society. The session was concluded by the moderator by stating it’s a high time to sweep out the dowry system and domestic violence on women. This panel discussion unanimously stressed on the need of womanhood to be educated and to be socially and economically independent. Women’s cell member Ms. Binisha V delivered a vote of thanks for the session, with a special mention to the technical support provided by a few students for conducting such a discussion in the online platform. The meeting dispersed after the national anthem.
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