About the Centre for Women’s Studies:

The Centre for Women’s Studies of our College was established in September 2005 with the financial assistance of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi under the X Plan. The UGC, has extended its aid to the Centre even during the XI & XII Plans. The College Management which has been serving untiringly for the cause of women’s education for more than five decades has added one more feather in its cap of achievements through the inception of the Centre for Women’s Studies under the able leadership of Mr. Moosa Raza I.A.S (Retd.), Chairman, S.I.E.Trust, Mr. Faizur Rahman Sayeed LL.B, (Canada) Correspondent, J.B.A.S College for Women and Dr. (Mrs) Nausheen Dawood, M.Sc.M.Phil.,PhD, Principal, J.B.A.S College for Women. 

The Centre has the distinction of being the first UGC sponsored Centre among the Colleges in the Chennai City. The objectives of the Centre are Teaching, Training, Research and Advocacy. The Centre has continually expanded its scope and creatively responding to the needs of both  Staff and Students. Today, it has successfully completed Seven Academic years and offers two Non-major Elective papers entitled, “Women’s Studies in India” and “Women and Legal Rights” at the Under Graduate Level under the choice based credit system. The Centre has completed three projects sponsored by the UGC, New Delhi and completed Three Research Projects funded by the National Commission for Women, New Delhi. The Centre also takes the credit for being nominated twice by the Vice Chancellor, University of Madras for conducting the UGC Refresher Course in Women’s Studies (Inter Disciplinary). The Centre has constituted an Advisory Committee consisting of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Madras as the Chairman, Chairpersons of Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board, State Commission for Women and President Working Women’s Forum (India) as its Members. The Centre has networking with other Colleges in the city.

STAFF OF THE CENTRE:

1.    Ms.Thahira Naseeruddin., M.A (His), M.L.I.Sc, M.Phil (Lib Sci),PGDLAN  Librarian,    

2.    Ms. K.Udaya Sri, MCA, System Assistant

3.    Ms. Meera Nagarajan, Attender.

Staff of the Centre for Women’s Studies

TEACHING PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY THE CENTRE:

1. Two Short Term Certificate Courses on “MS Office” and “Internet”:

The Centre conducts Two Short Term Certificate Courses on “MS Office” and “Internet” for the Staff and Students of both Forenoon and Afternoon Sessions from the   Academic year 2006 onwards. The syllabus deals with Ms Word and its features, Ms-Excel- and its usage, and Ms Power Point Presentation, Internet usage, Creating Email id, Forwarding Mail, Composing a New Mail, Attaching Files, Chatting, Downloading, Uploading and Searching files in the  Internet. 

   Fulfillment of the programme:    

   About 195 Staff and Students were trained with basic operating skills in Computer.

2. “Three Months Effective Communication Skill Development Programme”

The Centre organizes “Three Months Effective Communication Skill Development Programme” for the Students of both Forenoon and Afternoon College Students from the Academic year 2008 onwards. The syllabus deals with Modes of Communication, Barriers of Communication, Choice of Words, Body Language, Tone of Voice, Styles of Communication, Handling Tough Situations, Clarifying, Summarizing, Paraphrasing, Questioning, Negotiating, Grammar, Writing Skills, Dialogue Writing, Creative Writing, Group Discussion, Quiz etc. Audio-Visual CDs are played to develop the Conversational and Listening Skills of the Students.

   Fulfillment of the programme:     

   About 160 Students were trained with Effective Communicative Skills.

3. Two Non-Major Elective Papers:

The Centre offers Two Non-Major Elective Papers entitled, “Women’s Studies in India” and “Women and Legal Rights” for the Students of the Forenoon College from the Academic year 2010. 

   Fulfillment of the programme:    

   About 114 Students from various disciplines had opted for the following papers: 

            (a) “Women’s Studies in India” and 

            (b) “Women and Legal Rights”

TRAINING PROGRAMMES ORGANIZED:

The Centre organizes several Workshops, Seminars, and Training Programmes to create awareness to the Staff and Students about Gender issues and the Constitutional Rights available for Women. Details of the activities undertaken are attached.

RESEARCH STUDIES UNDERTAKEN:

a) UGC sponsored Research Studies:

The Centre has completed Three UGC sponsored Research Studies entitled:

1. “Women Issues: Day Today Problems of Women Relating to Social, Economic, Health, Psychological and Political Participation”.

2. “Women’s Upliftment: Women’s Empowerment in the Various Sectors like Health, Education. Policies etc With Special Reference to Tamil Nadu.”

3. “Health Status of Working Women in Chennai- A Comparative Study.”

b) National Commission for Women, New Delhi sponsored Research Studies:

The National Commission for Women, New Delhi had sanctioned Rupees Ten Lakhs One Thousand and Seven Hundred Only to conduct the following Three Research Studies:    

1. “Measures to control the menace of Domestic Violence Against Women in India”

2. “A Comparative Study of Self Help Groups in India”

3. “Property Rights of Women in Tamil Nadu”

ADVOCACY UNDERTAKEN:

The Centre involves in conducting several Extension programmes to educate the Public, Staff and Students on Women Issues, Government Legislations, Policies and Programmes for the development of women, the Constitutional guarantees available for Women and the measures to tackle the day today problems faced by women. 

Various Counseling Services like Free Health Awareness Programme,  Free Legal Aids Awareness Camp, HIV/AIDS/STD Awareness Protection and Control Programme, TB Elimination and Control Programme, Leprosy Elimination Programme, Entrepreneurial Training and Micro Credit Programme, “Environmental Hygiene, Pollution Control, Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation Programme” were conducted from 19th to 24th February 2006 for the women residing at 37/1, North Mada Street, Neelambal Ashram, Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi, Chennai in the out skirts of Chennai as an out-reach programme. Permission was sought from the Municipality of Avadi. 

Rally to “End Violence Against Women” was organized on 19th January 2008 in collaboration with “International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC)” who sponsored T-Shirts for the Students who participated in the Rally. 

In commemoration of the National Girl Child Day, the Centre had organized a “Rally to Protect the Rights of Girl Child” on 30th January 2010. Ms. Selvi, Advocate, Madras High Court was the chief guest for the function.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

The College Management has allocated a separate block for the Centre for Women’s Studies and has provided good infrastructure and equipments for its smooth functioning.      

CLUSTERING:   

a) With Other Departments of the College:

1. Department of History.

2. Department of Economics.

3. Department of Political Science.

4. Department of Commerce.

5. Department of English.

6. Department of Psychology.

b) With Other Women Study Centres within the City:

 1. Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai.

 2. Stella Maris College, Chennai.

 3. Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai.

 4. St. Christopher’s College of Education, Vepery, Chennai.

 c). With Other Colleges:

1. Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai.            

2. Stella Maris College for Women, Chennai. 

3. Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai.

4. Women’s Christian College, Chennai.

5. Loyola College, Chennai. 

6. Queen Mary’s College, Chennai.

7. Qaidde-Milleth Government Arts College for Women, Chennai.

8. Bharathi Government Arts College for Women, Chennai.

9. Government Arts College for Men, Nandanam.

10. St. Christopher’s College of Education, Vepery, Chennai.

11. P.S.G. R Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore.

12.  Dr. Ambedkar Law College, Chennai.

d) With Other Universities:

1. University of Madras 

2. Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal

3. Avinasalingam Deemed University Coimbatore.

4. Dr. Alagappa University, Karaikudi

5. Bharadhidasan University, Trichy. 

6.  Shri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam Women’s University, Tirupati.

7. Dr.M.G.R University Maduravoyal, Chennai.

8. Gandhigram Rural University, Dindigal

PARTNERSHIP:  

1. Working Women’s Forum of India (WWF), Mylapore, Chennai.

2. Women Lawyers Association, Chennai.

3. Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women

4. Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board

5. Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation, Chennai.

6. Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.

NETWORKING:

1. WE CAN (An unit of Oxfom International)

2. National Institute of Entrepreneurial Small Business and Development (NIESBUD)

3. Marketing Organisation of Women’s Entrepreneurs (MOOWES)

4. Small Industries Service Institute  (SISI)

5. Madras Institute of Developmental Studies (MIDS)

6. Madras School of Social Work

7. American Library, Chennai.

8. Doordharshan Kendra, Chennai

9. “The Hindu”

10. “The Indian Express”

11. “Dinakaran”, Tamil Daily

12. “Tamil Murasu”, Tamil Daily

13. “Dinamani”, Tamil Daily

14. “Dinamalar”, Tamil Daily