The social and economic development of India has gone through various phases since independence and this process of development in India has been manifested with several layers of marginalization and exclusion. One such dimension of marginalization is the status of women. The engagement of women in the labour market and the broader development outcomes have been shaped by high interaction of social, economic, legal, cultural, political and institutional factors. Foregrounding of labouring women and their particular issues into academic and policy debates is essential for a gendered critique of Indian economy.
With this backdrop, the Department of Economics, Adamas University has organised a Lecture Series which aims to bring together India’s leading voices on emancipation of women’s labour from both academia and outside. The series at once focuses on mapping the complex web of marginality of women’s work and accentuate its centrality in transforming Indian society and economy. The Lectures will delineate theoretical and practical measures required for ‘actually opening up’ Indian economy by unfettering women’s labour.
Anjan Chkrabarti, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Calcutta, delivered a stimulating session on the topic ‘The Political Economy of Female Foeticide in India’.
Swati Ghosh, Professor, Department of Economics, Rabindrabharati University, had an interactive session on the topic ‘Women, Marginalisation and Vulnerability’.
Ishita Mukhopadhyay, Ex-Director, Women’s Studies Research Centre, University of Calcutta, Coordinator, Indian Association of Women’s Studies (Eastern Region) & Professor, Department of Economics, University of Calcutta, shared her research experience and output on the topic “Female Labour in India: A pool of Working Poor” on March 6, 2019.
The Department has plan to invite more eminent speakers, acclaimed scholars, and activists in this field to come and share their experience, research output with the students and faculty members of the university. Needless to mention, this is an enriching academic exposure for our students.