Psychology and Mental Health News

Release of a Novel by Jerry Pinto, April 26, South Bombay

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:37:17 -0700

I'll be going for the book reading.

Let me know if you want to attend and I'll share the exact location of the event with you and help you RSVP. Entry is free.

A bit about the book:

A searing and at times darkly funny study of mental illness, Jerry Pinto’s first novel is also a deeply moving story of love and family relationships.

You can read an extract at http://bit.ly/JeJCS1

- Chandni

PS: I have deleted the venue information from the mailer that they had sent to me.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Subject: Invitation to the launch of Aleph Book Company's first titles on 26th April 2012

Dear Ms Parekh,

It gives us great pleasure to invite you to the launch of one of Aleph Book Company’s first titles, Em and the Big Hoom by Jerry Pinto, on 26 April 2012 at 8 p.m. at Churchgate, Mumbai . We do hope you will be able to join us.

The attached invitation has all the details about the event. We look forward very much to having you with us.

With every good wish,

The Aleph Team

Aleph Book Company

www.alephbookcompany.com

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Scholarships for a Course on Sexuality

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:08:58 -0700

From http://tinyurl.com/dycw3jq -

CREA’s 6th Sexuality, Gender, and Rights Institute: Exploring Theory and Practice
7–15 July 2012
Istanbul, Turkey

Deadline: 25 April

CREA’s Sexuality, Gender, and Rights Institute is an annual, week-long, residential course—begun in
2007—which focuses on a conceptual study of sexuality and its application to program interventions.
The Institute examines the links between sexuality, rights, gender, and health, and their interface with
socio-cultural and legal issues. Participants critically analyze policy, research, and program
interventions using a rights-based approach.

Individuals working on issues of sexuality, LGBT rights, sexual rights, HIV/AIDS, violence against women, health, and/or gender are
eligible to apply.

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Funds Available for an NGO working with the Mentally Challenged

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:09:32 -0700

Hello,

Please mail me (chandni_parekh at yahoo.com) if you'd like to recommend any NGO for monetary contributions from Kedar who is studying Computer Science in the US. Details are given below.

- Chandni

From Kedar
March 25, 2012

Hi Chandni,

I'm a student with a part-time job in the US. I wish to make a small donation of $101 to an NGO that helps mentally challenged children, looks after them and educates them. I understand that this is a small amount but I would be continuing to make donations to the same NGO or different NGOs regularly in the future.

My hometown is Indore and I'd really wish to make this donation to an Indore (or M.P. based) organization. But nevertheless, for future donations, I would really like to know about any organization around the country working for this cause.

I request all NGOs working with mentally ill or challenged children and adults to send a note about their work. I'd also like recommendations for NGOs in Madhya Pradesh that do good work.

Thanks,

Kedar

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Invitation to Share Your Views on Sustainable Mobility Solutions & Related Issues

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:27:04 -0700

Let me know if you would like to be a part of this meeting on 18th or 19th April in Bombay... or if you want to recommend names of people whom the innovation consultants (including Rohit) could meet or talk to.

- Chandni

From: Rohit
Date: Fri, Apr 6, 2012
Subject: Expert Connect: Sustainable mobility solutions

Dear Chandni,

As I mentioned in our telephonic conversation, I am reaching out to you as part of an initiative that could potentially become the next inflection point when it comes to sustainable mobility solutions.

Reva Electric, now a part of Mahindra Group, has been audaciously pursuing its dream of introducing people to cars that don't run on polluting fossil fuels. The effort has thus far led to definite but limited success. We believe, sustainable mobility solutions will gain real traction if adopting them becomes compelling and convenient.

We along with Reva team are putting together a plan that involves initiatives much beyond just offering cars. It involves working on an ecosystem that will make using such solutions desirable. To begin with, Reva plans to introduce a new model of a very evolved electric car soon.

We are reaching out to and meeting thought leaders and experts who we could share our insights with and gain from theirs. The purpose is to evolve a plan that could trigger a wave making sustainable mobility a reality. We would be particularly interested in understanding and discussing your perspective and observations about the consciousness regarding new age challenges in environment, sustainability among masses especially youth. The other aspect that we want to explore is what do modern day consumers expect from Brands and what elements compel an individual and collective to change mindset and adopt newer technologies?

Our focus is on generating insights around why people rally behind personalities/brands/causes and how can one facilitate creation of a mass movement?

We plan to be in Mumbai on 18th & 19th April and would request you to suggest a suitable time for a 45 min- 1 hour conversation, on either of the days.

Please feel free to share my mail across your online and offline network and refer us to other experts who you think would be interested in sharing their perspective and in generating insights with us. I am sure our meeting will throw up interesting insights for both parties involved.

Thanks again for your active cooperation.

Best regards,
Rohit

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Funds for Psychiatric Treatment

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:15:58 -0700

From: Sailesh Mishra <sailesh2000_2000@yahoo.co.uk>
To: chandni_parekh@yahoo.com; mette brix <mbrix_45@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Subject: APPPEAL FOR URGENT HELP : Rare Medical Disorder for only Son of Lt Col(retd) K.Banerjee(Senior Citizen)

Dear Chandni ,

I request Urgent Help for Medical Treatment of Mr. Siddarth Banerjee , son of our Soldier Lt.Col ( retd) Kamal Banerjee , Mumbai.

Lt. Col ( Retd) Kamal K Banerjee a senior citizen approached us through HelpAge India, Mumbai office to seek financial / networking assistance for his son's psychological treatment (which was due to wrong prescription of medicine - which he took it for nearly 12yrs) . In short to explain you that his only son suffering from psychological illness needs urgent medical treatment . Both parents are Senior Citizens exploring all possibilities to get treatment from different hospitals and psychiatrists, so far they failed to get proper treatment but there is Ray of hope that they may get treatment at Mumbai , USA or Canada.

They have approached Microsoft, in return they requested to approach through NGO. They have a hope to get assistance from Microsoft if they approach through NGO which has FCRA . As Silver Inning Foundation does not have FCRA , can you help to Find any such organization / NGO who can help .

Considering plight of a Retired Soldier , Senior Citizen couple and humanity aspect can we help them in any way , either connecting to Microsoft or can we collect / appeal for financial aid of Rs. Six Lakh in India .

I have attached all necessary documents including Microsoft letter and India's top psychiatrist Dr. Y.A.Matcheswalla . Also please find below mail which is self explanatory .

Friends , Kindly look into the attachment and do the needful. In case if we succeed in helping through small way to this Elderly couple, it will have lot of positive impact on their Son's life and also relieve them of the stress ion their silver years .

Kindly do the needful by circulating this appeal and let me know if you require any additional information.

Warm Regards,

Sailesh Mishra

Founder President - Silver Inning Foundation
Founder – ARDSI Greater Mumbai Chapter
http://about.me/saileshmishra

____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Innings is working towards creating Elder Friendly World where Ageing becomes a Positive and Rewarding Experience.

Website : www.silverinnings.com

From: mette brix <mbrix_45@yahoo.com>
To: "silverinnings@gmail.com" <silverinnings@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, 30 March 2012, 20:58
Subject: Case History / Medical Expenses- Siddharth Banerjee, s/o Lt Col(retd) K.Banerjee(Senior Citizen).

Dear Saileshji,

Thanks for your sms dated 28th March confirming receipt of the aforesaid document relating to my ailing son, as certified by Dr Y A Matcheswalla, the noted psychiatrist of Mumbai.He indicated that the amount of Rs six lakhs was only for a prolonged conventional treatment in india and the electromagnetic implant in his brain in Canada, as proposed, would cost around 5-6 times higher.

I however regret to inform you that his condition is fast deteriorating. The latest unfortunate development is occasional inability of his legs to carry the body weight, apparently being an indication of gradual thinning of his bone-marrow as a side effect of his continuous intake of Stelazine, which was duly predicted by Dr Carey of UK as early as in 2006.

In view of this alarming situation, I would earnestly request you to kindly take up my son's case with Microsoft / Gates Foundation on an emergent basis, so that his life as well as future could be saved.

Warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

(Kamal Banerjee , Retd . Lt. Col.
B - 603 , MrugChhaya CHS , Versova , Andheri - west , Mumbai - 400061.
Mobile:082913-83911 Email : mbrix_45@yahoo.com )

Col K Banerjee Scan copies form Microsoft and hospitals.docx Download this file

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Talk on Safety in Public Spaces, March 28, Bombay

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:29:23 -0700

From: *Asiatic Society of Mumbai* <asiaticsociety1804@gmail.com>

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
takes pleasure in inviting you and your friends to the

*Eighth Professor L. B. Kenny Endowment Lecture*

*Dr. Shilpa Phadke*
Assistant Professor, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies,
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

*Unfriendly Bodies, Unfriendly Cities:
Reflections on Loitering and Gendered Public Space*

Wednesday, 28 March 2012, at 6.00 p.m.

at the Durbar Hall of the Society
*
Prof. Kamla Ganesh*
Department of Sociology, University of mumbai
will preside

Kindly join us for tea at 5.30 p.m.

A.P. Jamkhedkar Vivek Ganpule

Vice President Hon. Secretary

Synopsis:
In this presentation I seek to further develop the ideas around loitering
put forth in Why Loiter? Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets, a book I
co-authored where we argued that the celebration of loitering was an
important way of claiming city public spaces in defiance of laws against
loitering after sunset and before sunrise. We argued that the only way in
which women might find unconditional access to public space was if
everyone, including those who were not necessarily friendly to women also
had unconditional access. Subsequently in conversations with feminist
activists who work particularly with young women we’ve been challenged
several times on the grounds that everyone loitering includes even those
‘others’ (often young men) who intimidate young women and inhibit their
access thus in fact restricting the access of young women.

In this presentation I reflect on the question of unfriendly bodies in
cities: who they might be and what they might mean for varied marginal
groups’ access to public space as well as the idea of unfriendly cities;
understood both as cities full of all kinds of risks as well as cities
premised on exclusion in quest of ‘global sanitized utopias’.
Focusing on a politics of justice in access to public space, this paper
asks: What does it mean to stake an equal claim for all to loiter in public
space? How does one engage with the threat posed by one group of such
loiterers to another potential group? How does one understand claim staking
in a context where city public spaces are surveillanced and policed? What
are the claims of different kinds of bodies and how can we arrive at an
idea of justice that at least attempts to address the claims of as many
different groups as possible?

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Looking for counsellors for the Tardeo fire victims

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:47:19 -0700

Please mail me at chandni_parekh at yahoo dot com if you would like to help. Thanks. - Chandni

From: Zarine
Date: Sat, Mar 24, 2012
Subject: Hello

Hi Chandni,

You may have read about a major fire that took place in a residential building at Tardeo last Thursday. Eventually, the building caved in. There were a couple of casualties, some serious burnt cases.

Since this happened in the neighbourhood, we were witness to the despair of the residents. Some of us have got involved in rehabilitating the 50-odd families who are penniless. We are doing this completely on humanitarian grounds. When we started off, we didn't know a soul staying there. These strangers have now of course become friends.

However, we are often getting stuck because of lack of resources. And this is precisely why I am writing this note to you. We need someone to counsel some of them who are badly shaken by this trauma. There is a lady who wakes up in the middle of her sleep screaming. There could be other children also who could be going through these fears quietly.

Would you be able to put us in touch with a therapist or a trauma counsellor or someone else who could come & meet these people? I was thinking of a group session in Tardeo first and then individual counselling sessions, if needed and as appropriate. A session in Hindi and English should be fine.

I am open to suggestions from counsellors about how they would like to contribute.

Needless to say, it will have to be voluntary work since these families have lost everything in the calamity and the funds we are raising through our group, are being used for medical treatment of 3 seriously burnt patients who we helped move to Masina hospital.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,

Zarine

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Discussion about Mental Health Issues, March 25, Bombay

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:49:00 -0700

Posted by: "fabian almeida" wellsprings2006@hotmail.com

Thu Mar 22, 2012

I, Dr.Fabian Almeida, psychiatrist and counsellor by profession, have been passionate about
mental health over the past 15years. My dream of doing something concrete to
spread awareness about mental health and abolish shame and stigma associated
with mental health interventions; now finally takes shape in the form of a
table-top calendar: INSPIRATIONS 2012-2013... ...wherein all the twelve months from April 2012 to March 2013,
will each unfold the picture and story of an ordinary person... who battled mental
health problems with their grit, psychiatric treatment, love and support of
their family....and made their lives extraordinary !!

Twelve champions who have
the courage to share their stories- an inspiration for everyone to become an
ambassador for positive mental health. This concept, I understand , is the
first of its kind across the nation...and we are truly happy and proud about
it.

Our proud moments of joy- for the team of HOPESPRINGS PSYCHOSOCIAL
ACTIVITY CENTRE and WELLSPRINGS COUNSELLING CLINIC – will be on Sunday , 25thMarch’12,
6.30pm onwards – when this table top calendar (April ’12 to March ’13) will
be released at the hands of my teacher Dr.Shubhangi
Parkar (Dean, Academics – GS Medical College & K.E.M Hospital) and Dr. Harish Shetty (renowned social
Psychiatrist) ....and I would want you to share in our pride and joy ! Please spread the word about the event to those who would like to attend.

The venue is Springtime Club Lawns, near cinemax, khadakpada
, Kalyan (W) ...15 minutes from Kalyan station , by autorickshaw. It is
thrilling to note that our “12 calendar
girls & calendar boys” will be our Chief guests for this function. Besides
unfolding their stories, we have a few theme based dances choreographed by
Shobhit’s SLOSHES DANCE STUDIO, to provide some wholesome entertainment . Don’t
miss the lucky draw... gold pendant , meal vouchers , Bajaj Iron , Blender,
Pure-it water purifier, and what not !

Please carry a printout of this for entry to the
programme. Please be on time - restricted entry, limited seats (first come ,
first served basis).
Queries: Raju-9867247843

With every good wish,

And a sincere request for your prayers & blessings... looking
forward to seeing you all !!

Dr.Fabian Almeida

Psychiatrist, Counsellor & Motivator ( With work
experience in U.K)

Please Note: Wellsprings counselling clinic completes 6yrs on Monday
26th March’12 . Do continue to support & strengthen us.

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Event on Gender Issues, March 10, Bombay

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 07:14:28 -0800

From: harsh <harsh267@rediffmail.com>

Women's Day Special on 10th March... Please do come

Hi All,

International Women's Day is nearby and here's a special program to observe the occasion by Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA).

In collaboration with Dharavi NGO Forum, MAVA has organized a public program on Saturday, 10th March 2012 from 3.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Details attached.

Venue: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hall, Matunga Labour Camp, Opp. MSEB Office, Dharavi, Mumbai – 400017.

First of its kind, the program titled 'Jotibaanchya Lekaansathi...' (For the sons of Jotiba...) aims to reach out to Men in our quest for a gender-just society.

In our so-called progressive Maharashtra, all have been eager to have Daughters of Savitribai (Phule)…. And we have done quite a lot on this count. The key question is what has been done, by all the concerned, to produce Sons of Jotiba (Phule)? While taking a stock of the status of women, we may take pride that the female stereotypes have been broken to a large extent, but what about the male stereotypes? Without breaking these, can we really address the real 'gender' question?

Our special program, using popular folk-forms of Maharashtra and a live dialogue with 2 Men who have traversed through a journey breaking the male stereotypes in their own way, will interrogate the above key questions and engage the gathered community.

Apart from the youths, men and women from Dharavi, the program is open to all thinking Men and Women, dreaming of a healthy, violence-free society.

We would appreciate confirming your presence via phone :

Ram Shinde – 96645 15240 / 022-26826062

Email : harsh267@rediffmail.com

Also request you to kindly forward this to all your contacts, who may be interested in attending.

Harish Sadani

Hon. Secretary, MAVA

Ph. 9870307748

Details of the Program ( to be held in Marathi - Hindi) :

· Rally by young men from Dharavi advocating women's rights and gender equality, culminating at the Program Venue

· Presentation of Songs and folk-form 'Bharud' presented by Dhammarakshit, Eknath Dhokale and others on the theme

· Address by Writer-Activist Urmila Pawar

· Poetry-Reading by Poets Anil Dabhade, Raj Chinchankar and others

· Open Discussion on 'Breaking the Moulds of Masculinity'

Participants: Journalist Haaris Shaikh, who had an inter-religious marriage and Classical Dancer-Choreographer-Educationist Vaibhav Arekar sharing their personal and professional journey, questioning the traditional notions of Masculinity…

Discussants: Writer Awdhoot Paralkar, Activist Harish Sadani

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Human Rights Education Seminar, March 5-6, Bombay

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:31:41 -0800

From: Vibhuti Patel

Entry is free and open to all. Please spread the word.

From: ICOR <icor@mtnl.net.in>

Human Rights Education Seminar on 5^th & 6^th March, 2012

at Sarvodaya, St. Pius College, Goregaon (East), Mumbai-63

SCHEDULE

Time	Topic	Speakers
5^th March, 2012 Monday
9.00 – 10.00	Registration & Fellowship Inauguration
10.00 – 10.15	Welcome Address	Allwyn D’Silva President of SAHREC
10.15 – 10.20	Introduction to Speaker	Shweta Shalini
10.20 to 11 am	Addressing Human Rights Education: Keynote Address	Dr. Kannamma S. Raman Reader in Public Administration University of Mumbai
11.00	Vote of thanks	Mario Mendes
11.05 – 11.45	Human Rights Education: Global Perspective	Dr. Vibhuti Patel Professor & Head Dept of Economics, SNDT University, Mumbai
11.55 – 12.35	Human Rights Education: Women Empowerment	Adv. Kamayani Bali Mahabal Visiting Lecturer MIT University, Sydney
12.35-1.00	Open Discussion
1.00-2.00	Lunch
2.00 – 3.30	Victims of Human Rights Violations and mechanism to protect	Arun Ferreira Pamela Fernandes
3.30 – 4.00	Open Discussion
4.00	Tea Break
6^th March, 2012 Tuesday
9.30 – 10. 30am	Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka	Human Rights Office,Kandy, Srilanka
10.40 – 11.20	Human Rights Education Teachings & Challenges	Human Rights Office,Kandy, Srilanka
11.25 – 12.15	Open Discussion
12.15 – 1.00 pm	Paper presentations	By Participants
1.00-2.00 pm	Lunch
2.20 – 3.00	Film/documentory screening
3.05 – 4.00 pm	Structuring of SAHREC- Concluding Session	Allwyn D’Silva Shweta Shalini
4.00 pm	Tea

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Seminar on Women Empowerment | March 16-17 in Bombay

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:10:22 -0800

From: Vibhuti Patel

Please spread the word. Entry is free and open to all.

From: "Dr. Shanta Mohan - CSSS"

Sub: Two day seminar on ‘Role of State and Religion on Women Empowerment’ at Pravin Gandhi College of Law, Mithibai College Bldg, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai-56 on 16th-17th March 2012

TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR ON

THE STATE, RELIGION AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

A BRIEF CONCEPT NOTE

The concept of women’s empowerment has been gaining momentum for the past few decades and received impetus following the Beijing Declaration (1995) and UN Resolution No.1325. The need for women’s empowerment was felt as women formed one of the several disempowered subsets of society viz., the poor, the oppressed classes, minorities etc. But, women constitute a crosscutting category of individuals that overlaps with all these other groups. Empowerment is the process of expansion in people's ability to make strategic life choices in a context where this ability was previously denied to them. Within this broader definition, empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social or economic strength of individuals and communities and often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities.

Thus, empowerment is the totality of the following or similar capabilities:

* having decision-making power of their own,
* having access to information and resources for taking proper decision,
* having a range of options from which one could make choices,
* ability to exercise assertiveness in collective decision making,
* having positive thinking on the ability to make change,
* ability to learn skills for improving one's personal or group power,
* ability to change others’ perceptions by democratic means,
* involving in the growth process and changes, and

* increasing one's positive self-image and overcoming stigma

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favor of women. Empowerment is the one of the key factors in determining the success of development in the status and position of women in the society. The special focus on empowering women and girls is on account of the fact that they hold the key to long-lasting social change in communities.

It is the society’s moral, social and constitutional responsibility to ensure women’s progress by providing them with equal rights and opportunities. Today women have made substantial progress in every walk of life and with their hard work and sincerity excelled in several fields. Women are considered to be more honest, meticulous, and efficient and hence more and more commercial organizations prefer hiring women for better performance and result.

However, India is home to three major religions and measured from the parameters of religion, culture and tradition, the level of achievement of women’s empowerment varies from one religion to the other. Given the common parameters of poverty, patriarchy, want of education, poor economic status etc., if women of a particular religion have not achieved the level of empowerment like that of women from other religions, the question that arises is whether religion is an impediment to women’s empowerment? Is there anything in the religion which prevents women’s empowerment? Or is it the way religious edicts are interpreted by the males?

All religions can empower women, and all have empowered women at various times. They can also disempower women and have done so many times. If empowerment is understood as providing men and women with equal status, religion has not empowered women either historically or, often, in the present times. But if empowerment is understood as providing women with a greater sense of themselves, their capacity and their significance in the world, religion empowers women.

Some religions and some particular stances within other religions have actively discriminated against women, on religious grounds. For example, though women had great power in the convents historically in Roman Catholicism, it does not contemplate having women priests despite a shortage of men as candidates. In Islam women play a very limited role, though the variation is far wider; from the anti-women stance of extreme Islamist positions to the equality preached by Ismaili Muslims, and much else in between. Hinduism has only a few women priests. Hindu women were prohibited from chanting the Gayathri Mantra; the restriction being placed on women more by the priests, pundits and traditions than by the religion itself. On the other hand, Protestant Christianity has women in almost all imaginable leadership roles, and non-orthodox Judaism has allowed women to be rabbis, chair assemblies of rabbis etc.

Thus, religion can empower women, though they are mainly empowered by faith rather than religious structures, which tend to disempower women, by placing a number of restrictions and attributing it to religion, depriving women of their rightful access to education, healthcare, reproductive rights and participation in the society and politics, with terrible and long term effects.

Too often religion consciously or unconsciously sustains gender inequality and creates barriers that inhibit women from participating fully in the life of the secular, religious and global community. Patriarchal disparities such as power, cultural and religious norms and economic disparities too often deny women an equal place at the table of decision making. It is the religious patriarchy that often defines the level of credibility and insidiously reduces the credibility if women at the highest levels of decision making

The use of culture and religion to deny women's rights to secular education or exercising franchise or public protest or even driving a car by religious patriarchs in Saudi Arabia is an example of the power dynamics that disempower women. In such cases, Women's empowerment is in crisis because political Islamists claim that religion itself sanctions women's disempowerment. Such claims are also made by patriarchal elements in non-Muslim contexts. Thus, the conservative Muslim Clergy in India is opposed to a range of ambitions of Muslim girls and women, although they are generally ignored by policies, programmes and development interventions. Still, such a political agenda inhibits equitable development and democratisation. Women who resist are condemned, ostracised, threatened, abused, and de-humanised.

In classical medieval and modern times, girls were often married off early in life. Today, although young Hindu women do not usually marry until their twenties, child marriages are still in vogue and in some communities marriages are arranged just after the girls are born. Even among the Muslims child marriages are not infrequent, justified from a religious angle. Religious sanction is also cited by Muslim males who practice polygamy or deny maintenance to their divorced wives. Unfortunately Muslim clergy have invariably supported the males. Muslim women are also discouraged from contesting elections, taking up secular education and attending co-educational institutions, all of which, Islam, per se, does not prohibit.

Women empowerment is understood as a very narrow term in today’s world. Women’s empowerment should focus on the holistic manifestation of womanhood and the feminine with a goal to bring a perfect balance between the masculine and the feminine forces of the nature irrespective of gender. Thus women’s empowerment should transcend the gender and reach the whole of humanity to establish a matriarchal society based on creative and generative action. Such a social order should be based on the principles of love, compassion, nurturing and with a purpose of unifying the forces of nature.

Besides belonging to a given religion, a woman is also the citizen of an independent country, where the tools of citizenship could be used to establish her identity, her rights, and her social and political position. Empowerment of women, in the social, economic, political and religious context, can become a reality not by the passing of laws but when women come out of their homes and actively participate in reshaping the society. It is only when women are empowered in all spheres of life with an equal opportunity and when she has the choice and opportunity to lead a publicly active life that we can talk about a foundation being created for a collective change in the society. An empowered woman will be in a position to confidently articulate her thoughts and becomes more productive in her actions. But, the reality we see today is still different. Toady’s structures are all patriarchal in nature which is based on power and control on account of which women cannot move up the ladder beyond certain point.

Women’s empowerment in all walks of life shall bring the necessary balance that is required in nature. It will help in promoting structures which are more inclusive, progressive, creative, constructive and generative in nature and which are in sync with nature. If religion does not stand in the way, why do religious structures prevent women’s empowerment? Is it the male ego, or his greed for power and control or a lack of confidence in the male in allowing women’s empowerment?

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Talk on Balancing Home and the Workplace, March 7, Bombay

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:44:25 -0800

From: wgu counsellor <wgucounsellor@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 2, 2012

Dear all,

The Counselling and Guidance Centre of the Women Graduates Union is celebrating the International Women’s Day by organizing a seminar

“Walking the Tight Rope – Balancing Home and Workplace”

On Wednesday, 7^th March 2012 at 11.00 a.m. at Amy Rustomjee hall, Colaba.

The speakers are :

1. Dr. Ela Dedhia Associate Professor, Textiles & Fashion

Technology, Nirmala Niketan

2. Dr. Geeta Shah Radiologist

The speakers are eminent successful women in their professional and personal lives.

This seminar will be followed by a Kathak Performance by Ms. GANGAUR SHARMA, disciple of Guru Ganesh Hiralal Hasal .

The celebrations will culminate in an optional contributory lunch for Rs. 100/- only.

Last day for booking lunch is Monday, 5^th March 2012however attendance in just the seminar is free.

Kindly contact WGU on Telephone numbers 22151947 / 22186220 / 22160218. Do attend with family and friends.

Regards

Jaya Aiyappa

Counsellor

Women Graduates Union

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Release of a Book on Riots in Bombay, March 1, South Bombay

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:46:30 -0800

From Shilpa Phadke

---------- Forwarded message ----------

INVITATION

Network of Women in Media, India along with The Press Club, Mumbai & Sage Publications invites you to the release of journalist and NWMI founder-member Meena Menon's new book 'Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation' on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5 pm at The Press Club, Mumbai.

The book will be released by Justice BN Srikrishna (former judge, Supreme Court of India and the person behind the famed Srikrishna Report on the Bombay Riots of 1992-93 & the Bombay bomb blasts of March 1993).

This will be followed by a discussion with him as well as with Nandita Das (actor and director, 'Firaaq'), Firoz Ashraf (senior journalist) and author Meena Menon.

As our guests will have to leave early, we will start on time, so pls be there early.

And circulate this to fellow journalists and friends.

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Consultation on Challenges to Democracy & Fundamental Rights, March 3, Bombay

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:14:04 -0800

I'll be attending.

From: wrag2009@gmail.com
Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2012
Subject: Invitation to a Consultation on “Current Challenges to Democracy, Secularism & Fundamental Rights,” 3rd March 2012, Mumbai

[Attachment(s) from Women's Research & Action Group included below]

Dear Friends,

The Women’s Research & Action Group (WRAG) is pleased to invite you to an All India Consultation on “Current Challenges to Democracy, Secularism & Fundamental Rights”. The Consultation is to be held on 3th March 2012 for a day at the J.P. Naik Bhavan, Kalina University Campus in Mumbai. The Concept Note for the Consultation is attached.

WRAG was founded in 1993 in the wake of the communal violence that shook Mumbai in 1992. Its work focuses on protecting and promoting social and legal status of women, especially those from underprivileged and marginalized communities, through community empowerment and the law. It consists of a group of young feminists who engage actively with the women’s movement in India, constantly re-examining and questioning established norms and ideologies within. It also focuses its activities towards situating women’s concerns and interests within a human rights framework.

At WRAG as we launch into a new phase of our work we feel it is necessary to have a discussion on the issues outlined in the concept note with like-minded individuals, groups and networks; to take stock of the national and global scenario and to collectively deliberate on a way forward.

We extend our invitation to you personally to participate in this Consultation.

The following 4 themes are identified for discussion during the consultation:

1. Women Human Rights Defenders
2. Progress on economic, physical and legal security of minorities
3. Security forces and the need for accountability
4. Gender Repression

We are in the process of finalizing the list of speakers and discussants but would like you to save this date in advance so that we can benefit from your insightful inputs. Further details about the programme and arrangements will follow.

We look forward to your participation and contribution to the discussions. Entry is free but registration by email is required.

In Solidarity,

Nasreen Mohammed
Saumya Uma
Vahida Nainar
Varsha Berry
Dr. Vibhuti Patel

Encl: Consultation Concept Note

__._,_

CONCEPT NOTE WRAG.pdf

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Inviting NGOs to Participate in a Research Study on Skills-Based Volunteering

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:53:00 -0800

From: Ruchi Kumar <ruchi.kumar18@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 22, 2012
Subject: Mumbai based non-profits: Invitation to participate in Research Study on Skills-Based Volunteering

Dear Chandni,

Please circulate the information among the NGOs in your network.
The study will help the sector as a whole, and the NGOs to access
highly priced professionals for small projects. Thank you for helping!

-----

This is to invite Mumbai based non-profits to participate in a study
on impact of skill-based volunteering by professionals who wish to
support social change with pro-bono work, rather than donations.

The study is being conducted by Drishtant (http://www.drishtant.com/)
- a platform that connects non-profits with socially conscious
professionals. Registered non-profits can post specific, short term
requirements (eg. a women's livelihood group needs fresh designs for
kurtis that they can tailor, or a health service needs behaviour
change communication pamphlets designed...see website for range of
ideas). On seeing their post, professionals interested in supporting
the cause can get in touch with the non-profit directly, and volunteer
their services at no charge (skill-based volunteering).

By participating, your non-profit may be able to secure some
professional services free of cost which may otherwise be an
expenditure item for the organization, as well as gain visibility as
part of a research project intended for publication. There is no fee
for participation in this study, but there is a cap on the number of
projects that will be posted. The study will conclude by July 2012.

If you wish to participate or learn more or share thoughts, please
write to me at ruchi.kumar18@gmail.com. I am looking forward to
hearing from you.

Have a lovely day!

- Ruchi

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Seminar on Counselling in Schools, March 9, Deonar, Bombay

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:57:26 -0800

I'll be attending.

Posted by: "sonali sehgal" sonali.sehgal@gmail.com

Sat Feb 18, 2012

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences is a premier institution of Social Science which attracts students from all over India, across a wide range of socio-cultural strata.Started in the mid-1990s Counselling service at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences is available to both students and staff and is a free service. Trained counselors play an important role in the lives of the students and staffs. They provide services designed to promote the academic, personal and social growth of the individuals and groups who approach them. The centre has also developed an innovative program of training students as “Peer Supporters” who provide basic support to fellow students and stand by them in crisis situations.

In order to share this journey of growth and encourage other educational institutions to share their experiences in addressing the concerns of young people or initiate counselling service, TISS plans to hold a seminar. Principals, teachers and counsellors dealing with the concerns of adolescents and youth are invited for the seminar.

The focus of the seminar is to allow the schools to interact with each other and share their personal experiences of handling situations with the counsellor or the management.The seminar will focus on effective counselling practices and an overview of the preventive and supportive work that TISS does.

The seminar is a mix of an interactive panel discussion where the panelists will speak about varied themes such as

Functioning of a successfully established counselling centre
Counselling in schools where management handles the crisis situations
Partnerships with parents and teachers to enhance the effectiveness of counselling
Media as a tool

There will be a panel discussion and the panelists are as follows:

Father Terence Quadros, St Xavier's college

Ranjini Swamy, St Gregorios HIgh School

Upasana Saraf, Bombay CambridgeSchool

Dr Anuradha Sovani, Mumbai University

The seminar will also provide a glimpse in to the innovative practices that TISS has initiated as a way of outreach and strengthening bonds with the student community.Post lunch there will be scope for discussions and an opportunity for various schools to discuss their unique ways of outreach.

The details are as follow:

Title: Current trends of Counselling Services in Educational Institutions

Date: Friday 9th March 2012
Time: 9.30 A.M. To 5.00 P.M.
Registration Fees: Rs. 200 per person
Venue: Tata Institute Of Social Sciences Deonar, Mumbai Campus
No of Participants: 40

Please contact our Counsellors:

Ms. Sonali Gupta: sonaligupta297@gmail.com

Mr. Swapnil Pange: swapnil.pange@gmail.com

Last date for Registration: 5th March 2012

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Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods, Feb 23-24, Bombay

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:45:14 -0800

From vatsala_kat@yahoo.co.in

The Research Centre for Women’s Studies
Announces
a
Two-Day Workshop
on
“Issues in Qualitative Research Methods”
by
Dr. Clare M. Wilkinson Weber
Associate Professor, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA

On 23-24 February 2012
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Venue: Research Centre for Women’s Studies,
SNDT Women’s University, Juhu Campus, Mumbai

Open to all Teachers, Research Scholars, M.Phil. and Ph.D. students
Registration Fee: Rs. 300

About the Workshop
   The participants will:
Ø  Learn about the range of qualitative methods used by anthropologists
Ø  Recognize strengths and drawbacks of these methods
Ø  Understand the chief problems to be overcome in designing and carrying out qualitative research
Ø  Propose potential research projects in which such methods might be useful

The workshop will include lectures on research methods in socio-cultural anthropology, including ethnography, participant observation, oral history, structured and open-ended interviews from a gender perspective. It will involve presentation of some case studies for discussion on practical, epistemological and ethical problems in the use of these methods. The participants will be required to outline how qualitative methodsmight be applied in projects of interest to them.
Dr. Clare M. Wilkinson Weber’s major research interests include Indian Media and Film Production; Material and Visual Anthropology; Gender and Development; Dress, Fashion and Representation. She has to her credit wide-ranging publications on the themes, Fashion and Films, Women in Textiles and Embroidery Industry, Film Costumes, Gender , Handicrafts and Development etc. , to name a few.

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Talk on Lifelong Learning by a Professor from Denmark, Feb 13, Bombay

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:26:27 -0800

From: bhargavi <bhargavi@tiss.edu>
Date: Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Subject: Meeting-cum-interaction with Prof. Soren Ehlers

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The Center for Lifelong Learning is pleased to announce a meeting cum interaction with Prof. Soren Ehlers, Aarhus University, Denmark. Prof. Ehlers will speak on Comparative Approaches to the Implementation of Lifelong Learning: Similarities and Differences between the Danish and Indian Scenario. The details of the programme are as follows;

Date : 13th February, 2012

Venue : Room No. 601,6th Floor, Guest House, Main Campus.

Programme:

4.30 p.m. Tea and Registration

5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Presentation by Dr. Soren Ehlers

6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m Discussion

Dr. Soren Ehlers is currently a Fellow at the National Center for Competence Development, situated at Arhus University, Denmark. He is Past President for the Danish Society for the History of Education and one of the founders of a University Consortium (Dept. of Education at Arhus University,Institute of Education at University of London, and Faculty of Philosophy and Education Sciences at Deusto University, Bilbao) who manages the joint programme European Masters in LifeLong Learning. Please visit www.lifelonglearningmasters.org

LifeLong Learning is a transnational policy concept developed by the OECD. It is a major challenge for professionals as the concept is based on competencies and not curriculae. This approach implies learning and not education. It also implies that the value of fixed curriculae is diminishing and practice based on negotiations with learners is expanding. The presentation by Dr.Ehlers will discuss the pedagogical problems related to the implementation of key competencies.

The Center for Lifelong Learning cordially invites you to participate in this programme.

R.S.V.P. bhargavi@tiss.edu (Ext; 5682) / ritesh.vaity@tiss.edu (Ext:5687)

Regards,

Nasreen Rustomfram Chairperson Centre for Lifelong Learning

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Discussion on Students' Learning Styles and Needs, Feb 5, Thane, Bombay

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:05:06 -0800

From: Manjushree Patil <manjushreepatil@aatmanacademy.org>

Date: Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Subject: "the aatman approach"
To: Aatman Academy <admin@aatmanacademy.org>

Good Morning,

Hello & Greetings!

“Every child is special!

This was the belief that led to the making of “Taare Zameen Par” a hugely appreciated movie

about how children learn and why they don’t!

“Every child is special and....... every child learns in a special way!”

This is the belief that led to the birth of

“aatman academy”- A Specialized Instruction School for children who learn differently.

We invite you to an interactive session to understand how to help children

with varied learning styles and specific learning competencies.

We look forward to share with you a very unique approach to school education,

“the aatman approach”.

SESSION DETAILS

Day & Date: Sunday, 5^th February 2012.

Timing: 10 am to 12 pm, followed by a question & answer session

Venue: aatman academy

row house no.21/22 neelkanth greens,

behind happy valley, manpada, Thane.

Registration for confirmation on 25892878 / 9869687073

or mail info@aatmanacademy.org

ENTRY FREE - OPEN FOR ALL

(Parents, Teachers, Educators, Doctors, Counsellors, Therapists etc.)

--
Warm regards,

Manjushree Patil,

Founder, Director

aatman academy,

aart & aalap

99870-88939/ 98219-12072

aatman academy

"if i've willed it, i'll buiLD it"

A specialised instruction school for children with LD

the aatman academy, row house 21/22, Neelkanth Greens, manpada, thane (w) 400601

Tel: 022-25892878, 32572948/9 www.aatmanacademy.org

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Symposium on Violence against Women & Kids, Feb 2-4, Bombay

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:17:02 -0800

I'm mostly attending. If you want to attend, you need to register in advance.

From: SNEHA Mumbai <pvwc.sneha@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Subject: Hello from NGO SNEHA

Dear Chandni,

Greetings from SNEHA!

Thank you very much for offering to help us publicise our Community Symposium on prevention of violence against women and children.

The dates of our Symposium are 2nd-4th Feb.

I am attaching the concept note and tentative schedule for your perusal. Do let us know if you would like more information.

Psychology and Mental Health News

Release of a Novel by Jerry Pinto, April 26, South Bombay

Scholarships for a Course on Sexuality

Funds Available for an NGO working with the Mentally Challenged

Invitation to Share Your Views on Sustainable Mobility Solutions & Related Issues

Funds for Psychiatric Treatment

Talk on Safety in Public Spaces, March 28, Bombay

Looking for counsellors for the Tardeo fire victims

Discussion about Mental Health Issues, March 25, Bombay

Posted by: "fabian almeida" wellsprings2006@hotmail.com

Thu Mar 22, 2012

Event on Gender Issues, March 10, Bombay

Human Rights Education Seminar, March 5-6, Bombay

SCHEDULE

Time

Topic

Speakers

Seminar on Women Empowerment | March 16-17 in Bombay

Talk on Balancing Home and the Workplace, March 7, Bombay

Release of a Book on Riots in Bombay, March 1, South Bombay

Consultation on Challenges to Democracy & Fundamental Rights, March 3, Bombay

Inviting NGOs to Participate in a Research Study on Skills-Based Volunteering

Seminar on Counselling in Schools, March 9, Deonar, Bombay

I'll be attending.

Posted by: "sonali sehgal" sonali.sehgal@gmail.com

Sat Feb 18, 2012

Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods, Feb 23-24, Bombay

Talk on Lifelong Learning by a Professor from Denmark, Feb 13, Bombay

Discussion on Students' Learning Styles and Needs, Feb 5, Thane, Bombay

Symposium on Violence against Women & Kids, Feb 2-4, Bombay