The Capacity Building Programmes

 

In 2006, I got involved in a program me that was focused on capacity building for women in higher education. This was a brain child of Dr. Armeti Desai who was the UGC Chairperson once upon a time. This programme had two phases. in the first which was called Capacity Building and awareness  rising workshop there was a general training which was imparted. Prof. Uma, Parvathy, Sushila , Padma were all part of this workshop which was held at Dr. Ambedkar Open University. I had attended many workshops and Conferences earlier but this did touch a cord in my heart. It did things very differently and there were a lot of management tools that were used which included role play, discussions, games, exercises and the five days were filled with fun. One made a lot of friends and Dr. Padma really touched our lives. it was a treat to listen to her.  She was in the secretariat when the Status of Women Report , 1984 was commissioned and passed and she shared many highlights with us. She looked so soft and one realized that one did not have to look tough in order to get one’s way. She was an example of being soft and yet firm. I met Anju , Rani, Sneha, Pushpa Chakrapani and many more from  different Colleges in Hyderabad and we developed a very close bond. I definitely felt much more empowered and enlightened. This was followed by the Trainer of Trainees workshop which I attended at NALSAR University.