Kharagpur, West Bengal: The Centre for Rural Development and Innovative Sustainable Technology (CRDIST) at IIT Kharagpur, under the aegis of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), successfully organised a comprehensive awareness-building workshop aimed at empowering rural women from the Jhargram district of West Bengal. The initiative brought together over 70 women from more than 20 villages across the Gopiballavpur-I and Nayagram blocks, marking a significant step toward fostering inclusive and sustainable rural development. The programme commenced with a vibrant cultural procession, where participants showcased their traditional heritage while marching from the IIT Kharagpur main gate to the Rural Development Centre, creating an atmosphere of community pride and engagement.
The inaugural session was chaired by Professor Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur, in the presence of Professor Debdeep Mukhopadhyay, Associate Dean (R&D), and Professor Madan Kumar Jha, Head, CRDIST. In his keynote address, Professor Suman Chakraborty emphasised that the empowerment of rural women is fundamental to societal progress. He highlighted the importance of health, hygiene, and financial independence, encouraging participants to explore entrepreneurial opportunities by marketing locally produced goods. Professor Debdeep Mukhopadhyay addressed the importance of access to accurate information, noting that misinformation can reinforce societal biases. Professor Madan Kumar Jha focused on critical issues such as sanitation and child health, stressing the need for awareness at the grassroots level.
The workshop was divided into two technical sessions. The first session on rural health and hygiene featured Dr Indranath Banerjee, who spoke on birth control and family planning. Dr Shirin Dasgupta and Dr Barnali Ghosh provided valuable insights into maternal and child healthcare. The second session focused on household energy, where Professor Chirodeep Bakli and Professor Amit Ghosh guided participants on efficient energy usage, conservation practices, and sustainable living. The programme was coordinated by Professor Somnath Ghosal and concluded with an enthusiastic response from participants, who expressed a strong interest in having similar workshops conducted in their villages. Reaffirming its commitment to nation-building through grassroots engagement, IIT Kharagpur continues to actively contribute to rural empowerment and sustainable development under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan framework.
