IIM Calcutta Conducts Special Session for its Lady Employees & Students

IIM Calcutta Conducts Special Session for its Lady Employees & Students

As part of Gender Budgeting, a working session for all lady staff, lady officers, lady faculty members and girl students was organized on March 28, 2008 at the IIM-C campus under the title of "Self Development: Contemporary Issues".

This was for the first time that such a programme was held where all the lady employees and students, irrespective of their position and status, assembled together under a common platform.

In his welcome address, CAO, Mr. Dinesh Varma, highlighted the importance of holding such an event as to recognize and enhance the contribution of the ladies in the campus. He also assured that necessary steps would be taken for general upliftment of their amenities such as ladies toilet, etc., and suggested that a register would be introduced where they can put their suggestions and complaints which will be reviewed periodically and action would be taken afterwards accordingly. Since the institute is in a change and expansion mode, the resources available have to be utilized in an optimum manner. He advised that all lady members have a role to play and give their best efforts, as they are all very capable in their own domains.

Director, Prof. Shekhar Chaudhuri, welcomed the initiative and expressed his support to all the participants who were present during the event for their self-development.

While discussing in the context of team effectiveness, Prof. Leena Chatterjee emphasized on: -

Self Management: Managing Disruptive Emotions

Positive Attitude Towards Others: Build Trust; Encourage Collaboration

Interpersonal Communication: Taking Initiative to Share and Ask for Information, Clarify Goals; Listening Skills; Hope

Managing Conflict

She said that women had an advantage because they were usually skilled in 1, 2, and 3 points mentioned above but they need to be more assertive in managing conflict.

One of the key points of the discussion was keeping balance between workplace and personal life.

Prof. Annapurna Shaw spoke broadly on the topic of "Work-Life Balance and Environment". She said that working women face 'a double day' as they have office work during work hours and household work at home, after office hours. This can often be stressful and requires balancing of committments to two different worlds. Some suggestions on how to balance these worlds and enjoy them includes self belief, keeping some free time for oneself each day, doing even the smallest tasks to the best of one's ability and having an interest in larger issues - beyond home and work.

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Contributed by -
Aloke Guin,
PRO,
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

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