The Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab), Bathinda, under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, organised an interaction session to deliberate on women’s empowerment and their representation in academia, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), politics, bureaucracy, and nation building.
The programme was conducted in multiple sessions in support of the proposed implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam). The first round of discussion was held on April 9, 2026. Welcoming the participants, Prof. Monisha Dhiman, Director IQAC and Nodal Officer for Women Empowerment Activities, stated that the programme was organised to deliberate on strategies for effective implementation of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promote women-led development through greater participation in policymaking and leadership.
On this occasion, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari stated that with Parliament expected to deliberate on the operationalisation of the Act during its session scheduled for 16–18 April 2026, universities must contribute by formulating actionable recommendations for its effective implementation.
He administered an oath on gender equality and women’s empowerment to the participants, which concluded with all attendees echoing in unison, “I Support Immediate Implementation of Reservation for Women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.” Addressing the gathering, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari remarked that despite longstanding advocacy for gender equality in Indian society, women’s participation in decision-making and nation-building processes still requires strengthening to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.
He observed that societal stigma within a male-dominated framework often discourages women from voicing their opinions and participating in leadership roles. Stressing the importance of capacity building, he advocated targeted training programmes and coaching support for female students to enhance their representation in competitive examinations and administrative services.
He further suggested leveraging newspapers, community radio platforms, and rural outreach campaigns to generate greater social awareness and promote gender equity. He noted that increasing women’s representation in legislatures and public institutions is essential for building inclusive governance frameworks and achieving sustainable national development.
The second round of discussion was held on April 13, 2026. During the session, participants shared valuable insights on Social and cultural barriers for under-representation of women in policy making and legislatures; Structural and institutional barriers for under-representation of women in policy making and legislatures;
Women in politics and bureaucracy; Challenges and implications of under-representation of women in politics and bureaucracy; and Women as pathbreakers for Viksit Bharat. On this occasion, ten women representatives—Dr. Anushree Janu, Prof. Sandeep Kaur, Dr. Shruti Kanga, Dr. Smriti Rai, Prof. Yogalakshmi K, Dr. Rebeka Debbarma, Dr. Neelu Rawat, Dr. Deepika Srivastava, Prof. Bandana and Prof. Monisha Dhiman—shared their views on the aforementioned themes.
Alongside transforming societal attitudes, the deliberations also underscored the need for structured support systems and robust policy-level interventions to enhance women’s participation in politics, leadership, governance, and institutional decision-making across sectors. Prof. R.K. Wusirika, Dean Incharge Academics, highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the University to advance women’s participation in academics, including a substantial representation of female faculty and staff members, provision of Day Care Facility for children, Kendriya Vidyalaya for children of employees and nearby residents, Vice-Chancellor Awards for Best PG and Ph.D. Girl Students, leadership opportunities for female faculty members, and special leave provisions for women employees as per rules, thereby empowering them to contribute effectively to quality teaching and research.
Prof. Dhiman concluded the discussion by expressing gratitude towards participants and stating that the University will compile the outcomes and recommendations emerging from the session and submit them to the appropriate authorities to strengthen women’s representation in politics and decision-making.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty members, reaffirming the University’s commitment to advancing gender equity and inclusive growth in academic spaces.