Guwahati: Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU), in collaboration with the National Commission for Women (NCW), successfully conducted a two-day national seminar on "Women in Unorganized Sectors" on December 12 and 13 at its campus at Khanapara, Guwahati. The seminar aimed at making the stakeholders aware of the issues and challenges that women face in the unorganized sectors and to highlight the growing prominence of the unorganized sector, which now contributes to nearly half of India's GDP.
The seminar commenced with the address by Professor Joydeep Baruah, chairperson of the seminar, who set the tone for the discussions by providing an insightful overview of labour force dynamics in India, particularly focusing on gender disparities.
A thought-provoking keynote address was delivered by Professor Vandana Upadhyay, Professor of Economics at Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh. She delivered a comprehensive address on the topic 'Women in India's Unorganized Labour Market: Insights from Northeast India.'
Professor Rajive Mohan Pant, Vice Chancellor of Assam University, graced the seminar as the chief guest and provided a thought-provoking analysis of women's plight in the unorganized sector. He questioned whether India ever had an empowering ecosystem for women and presented a historical framework by dividing India's timeline into three phases: Swarnkal, Visadkal, and Amritkal. The inaugural session was concluded with the presidential address by the vice-chancellor of KKHSOU, Professor Rajendra Prasad Das, who emphasized the university's commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The seminar included several technical sessions that featured distinguished experts such as Professor Ramesh Borpatra Gohain, ex-advocate general of Assam; Dr. Saswati Choudhury from OKDISCD; Professor Chandan Kumar Sharma from Tezpur University; and others. They deliberated on various dimensions of women's work in unorganized sectors, including challenges related to wage disparity, lack of social security, and the growing need for inclusive policies that promote women's rights and economic independence.
The valedictory session, held on December 13, was attended by Diganta Barah, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, who delivered the valedictory address. He acknowledged the vital role of women in the social and economic development of the nation and called for more comprehensive strategies to improve their conditions. Pomi Baruah, Director, Higher Education (DHE), Assam, also graced the occasion and pointed out that women in unorganized sectors are often forced to remain in violent domestic environments due to financial dependency, threats, and survival needs, a press release said.
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