How far have we come?

From training underprivileged women as staff in the college canteen to providing excellent academic and entrepreneurial opportunities to students, Delhi University continues to empower women in their own little way.

Anand firmly believes that only independent women can provide a foundation for the next phase of India’s growth. For that, not only has she tirelessly worked in this direction, she has also collected fellow travellers on her journey. On 4 September, after having been approached by the Netherlands government, JDMC hosted a delegation which had proposed a partnership between the institutions. The delegation from Netherlands consisted of Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Simon Smits, Director-General Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicolette Koopman, senior policy officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lex Gerts, Personal Secretary to the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hans Akerboom, Spokesperson of the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Anand attempts to merge Gandhian ideals with the contemporary modern ethos.

‘Entrepreneurship is one way for women from financially weak backgrounds to gain economic self-sufficiency’, she said.  While Ploumen mentioned that she herself was a first generation university student. She lauded the fact that India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and that Netherlands relationship with India has shifted from an aid-centric relationship to a strong strategic partnership. ‘It is important to have a more equal society for all and not just for women’, she said.

Earlier this year, the visit of the prime minister of United Kingdom David Cameron to the college, focusing on the economic empowerment of women through education, facilitated the talks with the Netherland delegates. The programme will be spread out over a span of few months and will enable students to develop skills to be future entrepreneurs and achieve economic independence.

The college on interacting with students realised the scope and need for such a programme. ‘Many girls already had small scale production plans and were extremely enthusiastic and eager to join the same,’ said the enthusiastic principal.

The university of Delhi  seems to be dedicated to giving the society intelligent, informed, socially responsible, independent and
confident women.