Mahima Research Foundation and Social welfare
194, Karaundi, BHU, Varanasi-221005

Annual Report of Financial Year 2012-2013

Annual meeting of the Mahima Research Foundation and Social welfare was held on 5th April 2013. The detail activities of the financial year 2012-2013 were discussed with the participants due the meeting.
On 10th November 2012, the foundation organized two day National ConferenceIntegrative Approach to Metabolic Disorders (IAMD)” on 10-11 November, 2012 at Seminar Hall, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Faculty of Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi partially sponsored by Defence Res & Dev Organization (DRDO), New Delhi and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Prof. A.K. Madan, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pt. BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak. 200 Participants, teachers, students and Scientists participated in this National Conference.
On 22nd December 2012, the foundation organized two day National ConferenceIntegrated Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture in Global Market : Challenges and Opportunities” on 22-23 December, 2012 at Seminar Hall, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Faculty of Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi partially sponsored by Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, BRNS, Mumbai, and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Formers Head, Department of Dravyaguna, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. 225 Participants, teachers, students and farmers participated in this National Conference.
On 7th February 2012, the foundation organized the “Mahila Aur Samaj” at Office of Mahima Research Foundation and Social Welfare, 194, Karaundi, BHU, Varanasi In this programme Ratnesh Kumar Rao, Secretary, Mahima Research Foundation and Social welfare said that such views, common in medieval times as well as in restrictive theocratic societies today, have no legitimacy in a modern democracy. Our laws protect women against molestation or worse, irrespective of how they dress, behave or live their lives. These laws, and modern civilisation, deem that even so-called "women of loose morals" deserve the same protection of the law as those who are paragons of virtue. Further, that irrespective of whether it is commonsensical for women to dress conservatively in certain situations, it is nevertheless legal for them to not do so; and that men who treat them as fair game for assault are in fact the ones breaking the law.
Indian courts are generally progressive and have repeatedly upheld the rights of women, setting judicial precedents that afford them better protection. For instance, the higher courts have overruled trial courts that made allowances in favour of rapists on account of their victims' alleged promiscuity. As a result the law no longer permits the questioning of rape victims' morals in the courtroom. That is not to say that judges are immune from personal prejudices; there have been ins-tances where even high court judges have commented on what women ought to wear to avoid provoking men; but such attitudes have not found their way into case law.
Prof. A.K. Rai, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi said that the Status of Rural Women in India, “you can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women”- Jawaharlal Nehru. Emphatic words by one of our country’s premier leaders. The statement stresses the role women have to play in our society. India is currently witnessing a revolution of sorts in economy and the technological sectors, yet even 60 years after independence, women’s liberation seems a distant dream. As a country with more than seventy percent of its population residing in rural areas, it is worthwhile to examine the condition of women in our villages. A closer look at them reveals a striking paradox for a country poised to take the leap to becoming a super power in the not-so–distant future. Women are the pillars on which the family unit stands but rural women present a picture of abject poverty and exploitation both inside and outside the home. A vicious circle of malnutrition, ill-health and decreased productivity plagues them even today.
Prof. D.N. Tiwari, Head, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi said that urban women in India always had more advantages and opportunities than women residing in rural places. Better education, better economic resources, and more availability of required things for urban women and yet rural women have made rapid improvements despite lacking in basic facilities. No, we have yet to attain the state of complete women empowerment but signs of gradual improvement are definitely there. India in last few decades has remained more of a male-dominated society.
On 12th February 2013, the foundation organized “Mahila Sashaktikaran” at Seminar Hall, Mahima Research Foundation and Social welfare, 194, Karaundi, BHU, Varanasi. It was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Mithlesh Kumar, Reproductive and sexual health of women is of immense importance as a result of abuse whether in the family or at public sectors. These include injuries, gynecological problems, temporary or permanent disabilities, depressions which in extreme cases culminate in suicide. A psychological disorder that is typically emarked in victims of domestic violence is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Central/State Government should adopt or implement and review and analyze legislation to ensure its effectiveness in eliminating violence against women. Institutional mechanisms should be strengthened so that women and girls can report acts of violence against them in a same time psycho-educative programmes are very important for encouraging self-respect and minimizing power imbalance between men and women in the society. Women is the infrastructure of society, hence development of women is very essential without which society’s development could not be completed.
Dr. Madhavi Prasad Kesari said that in India, the status of girl child reflects serious gender based difference, inequalities and discrimination. Boys and girls are treated differently in the family and society. Girl children are subject to gender discrimination that include abortion of female foetus and abandonment of girl children. Girls are denied the right to education. Girl children are subject to gender discrimination includes low level of employment, poor participation in decision-making and politics, heavy work inside and outside home. Discrimination is very much visible in all these aspects of women’s life in society.
Mrs. Urmila Rao, President, Mahima Research Foundation and Social welfare said that elimination of discrimination is a hard task, especially in our country where diverse cultures have taken root, culture influence attitudes, which also get entrenched deeply. Empowerment of women will instill self confidence, essence of independence and capability in women to resist discrimination imposed by male dominated society. There needs to be an awakening in everybody. The united nation’s commission on the status of women in the fifty third session
s (2009) recognizes the gender inequalities still exist and are reflected in imbalances of power between women and men in all spheres of society.

(Ratnesh Kumar Rao)
Secretary
Mahima Research Foundation and Social Welfare,
194, Karaundi, BHU, Varana
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