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LEGACY OF DR. ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER
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A storm has destroyed everything in my life. I am not
even beginning to come to terms with the loss in my
life. Death, like storm, is in God’s hand and you are so
helpless. Never knew that death would snatch my very
loving father Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer from us. I was not
prepared yet for this colossal loss! But let me remember
what he has bequeathed to me. My sister Seema rightly
told a
 reporter that our father wanted us to inherit his
legacy equally – legacy of his teachings. In the lull
after the storm I am trying to reflect on his legacy to
gather some pieces of my inheritance.
What is the legacy that I have inherited from my father?
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The
discipline and the punishing schedule that he
followed.
He never budged from his daily routine which included
morning walks to maintain his health; working from
morning 8:00 am till 10 pm in the night with a small nap
in the afternoon until he was hospitalized on 13th
February; divided his day into four segments –
administrative work, responding to e-mails, reading and
writing, and followed the time schedule meticulously.
Office staff was not allowed to violate. Visitors from
outside city would be entertained even in violation of
the time distribution, but visitors from within city
were requested to seek appointment, but even then he
would be considerate if they came from far. Even on
Sundays and holidays, the schedule would hold for him
and even if he had to sit in the office alone. Sunday
evenings sometimes was a time for a little stroll or a
drive. Frequent travels deprived us, his family members,
from his company. However, he did not distinguish
between the groups that invited him. His commitment once
given, he would honour it even if later some more
important invitations arrived on his table. Even his ill
health would not force him to change his mind. He has
conducted his peace and conflict resolution workshops
when sick. This discipline and long day enabled him to
contribute so much to the world but perhaps contributed
to shorten his life. How organized and disciplined can
we be? Read Full article>>
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WORKSHOP-CUM-TRAINING CAMP ON THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN
PEACE AND COMMUNAL HARMONY
The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism,
Mumbai organised a workshop-cum-training Camp for
Youth on their role in Peace and Communal Harmony,
in
 collaboration
with the
Gandhian Institute of Studies (Trust), Varanasi and
Centre for Harmony and Peace Varanasi, on 19-21
March 2013 at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). There were
63 participants.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Prithvish Nag,
Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Krishi Vidyapeeth.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Nag said that it is
necessary to remove economic imbalances in the
society if communal harmony were to be established.
It is essential to create a feeling of goodwill
towards all religions in the minds of people,
especially the youth, in order to abolish
parochialism. Today most youth entertain an unbiased
attitude. If only under an impartial system of good
governance they are identified as partners, the idea
of communal harmony will become strong in the
country. At present the country’s system is based
on brotherly relations and goodwill. It is necessary
to maintain the same and youth can play a major role
in maintaining such goodwill.
Read full report>>
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WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH ON
PEACE, COMMUNAL HARMONY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism and Montfort Integrated Education
 Centre
are jointly conducted two day workshop for youth on
the topic of “Peace, Communal Harmony and Conflict
Resolution” at MIEC on 21st and 22nd
February 2013.The programme was started at 9.30 AM
with the inaugural session. Brother Mathew K.
Alexander, Director of MIEC Nagpur welcomed the
dignitaries. The resource persons were Swami John
Sachidanada, Adv. Irfan Engineer, Prof. Ram Puniyani,
Mr.Sarathchandran and Brother Mathew Alexander.
There were 90 youth nearby Nagpur and other places
of Maharashtra State participated.
Read Full
Report>>
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Community Workshop
on`
Role of Women in
Conflict Resolution and Communal Harmony
The role of women in conflict resolution has been
debated intensively in recent times. Women have
always been peace seekers and it is evident that if
women had the power of decision making, then they
would opt out of war. A community workshop to
motivate women to be
 change
agents was conducted at Muthsandra village of
Hoskote Taluk in Bangalore District by Centre for
study of Society and Secularism in collaboration
with Indian Social Institute – Bangalore on 8th
February 2013.
Muthsandra village, in Hoskote Taluk is a small
village consisting of 140 families. Most of the
families are dependent on Agriculture. The women
rear cattle. The Women in the village have formed
themselves into self help groups and are active in
resolving local issues in unity.
Read Full Report
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Workshop on Capacity
Building and Empowerment of Women
 A
2-day workshop on Capacity Building and Empowerment
of Women was organised n 24-25 December 2012 by the
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai
jointly with Gandhian Institute of Studies (Trust)
at Blooming Birds English School, Sitara Bahadurganj,
Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.
Local women, teachers, social activists
and students participated in the workshop. A number
of men also participated in the workshop.
On 24 December, Mrs. Nasim Khan, Director
of the school introduced the experts to the
participants. One of the students, Miss Shama
Parveen rendered a prayer song.
Read full report>>
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WORKSHOP ON CAPACITY BUILDING
AND EMPOWERMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN
 One
day workshop was organised for the sake of women
belonging to minority community on 29th
November 2012 at Tholiya
Bhavan, Ground Floor, Satacruz (E), Mumbai. The
topic of the workshop was Awareness, Capacity
building and empowerment of Muslim women.
The workshop was attended by nearly 38 participants
out of which 12 were Maulavis (Men) and the rest
women activists working for Muslim women.
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer started his lecture by
explaining the rights of Muslim women as prescribed
in Qur’an. Muslim community has remained backward
because of lack of awareness and education,
especially girls with the result community has
remained backward. There is no strong leadership to
fight for the community. He pointed out that the
practice of laws regarding marriage and triple
talaq and even inheritance are totally different
than that is prescribed in Qur’an
Read full report
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3-day workshop for Young Activists on ‘Religion,
Peace and Social Harmony’
 A
3-day Youth workshop was conducted for social
activists on “Religion, Peace and Social Harmony”
from 27th to 29th October 2012
at Asha Kiran, St. Pius College Campus, Goregaon
(E), Mumbai. In this workshop nearly 70 youth both
boys and girls were present. In fact the applicants
were more than expected and ultimately 70
participants were chosen.
The
workshop was intended for social activists the
subjects of both contemporary and historical topics
like religion, culture, ethnic violence and communal
violence in India were dealt in the workshop.
Read
full report
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WORKSHOP ON
RELEVANCE
OF GANDHIAN PHILOSOPHY ON
PEACE AN COMMUNAL
HARMONY
 A
2-day workshop on the relevance Gandhian Philosophy
on Peace and Communal Harmony was organised by the
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai
in collaboration with SVKM’s College of Law
at the Seminar Room of Mithibai College (Main
Campus), Ville Parle, Mumbai on 1 and 2 October
2012. The workshop was supported by the Indian
Council of Philosophical Research, Government of
India, New Delhi
Read full report>>
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‘Training of
Trainers Programme on Peace and Conflict Resolution’
 Centre
for study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) jointly
with Montfort Integrated Educational Centre (MIEC)
organised a ‘Training of Trainers Programme on Peace
and Conflict Resolution’ at Nagpur on 15th
to 16th October 2012. Youth from various
parts of Maharashtra participated in the camp. The
total strength of the programme was 75 including
boys and girls. Participants were from both urban
and rural areas.
Read full report>>
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Report on the workshop on
Awareness Creation and Capacity Building of Muslim
women, Patna
 A
2-day workshop on awareness Creation and Capacity
Building of Muslim women was organised on 23-24
September 2012 at IMA Hall, Gandhi Maidan, Patna,
jointly by the Centre for Study of Society and
Secularism, Mumbai, Gandhian Institute of Studies,
Varanasi, the Journal “Inspiration” of the
organisation Scientific Thought and Search Patna and
Izad, Patna.
The workshop was attended by 54 Muslim women from
Alamganj (Patna East region) and Phulwarisharif.
Students from the Post-graduate women studies of
Patna University also participated in the workshop.
Read full
report>>
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3 day workshop on
youth sensitization and AWARENESS FOR
‘peace and communal harmony’
17th to 19th july 2012
The workshop was attended by forty participants from
across Assam. Dr. S.S Zaman of SPP College chaired
the inaugural session of the three day’s workshop.
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, noted writer cum activist,
was the resource person for the pre-lunch session.
In his discourse on the topic ‘Religion and Culture’
and ‘Cultural Diversity in India’ Dr. Engineer
highlighted the ill-effects of
 Violence.
He says – violence victimizes innocent people. He
emphasized on non-violence that has the power to
sort out the problem, albeit it takes a bit more
time. Even the role of police personnel in
controlling the violence is not beyond suspicion, as
they were created in the colonial system to override
the mobs using arms.
In respect of violence, political as well as
religious, it is always seen that people behind have
some vested interest. Referring the partition of
India he mentioned that Mohammad Ali Jinnah was not
at all devout Muslim, but used the issue of
community politics for the vested political
interest. He mentions that Jinnah never went to jail
became the leader of the Muslim League. The
pre-lunch session thus end with some interaction
with the distinguished participants.
Read full report>>
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Workshop for
Ulama
on Religion, Peace and Freedom
The
CSSS organised a 1-day workshop for
Ulama
on 12th July 2012 at Tholia Bhavan,
Ground
 Floor,
Santacruz East, Mumbai. Although the CSSS
entertained apprehensions about the participation of
the
Ulama,
as many as 14
Ulama
from different Madrasas and 7 social activists
attended the workshop.
Mullahs and
Ulama
exercise a strong influence on the Muslim community
in general; particularly on the middle and
lower-middle income groups. Their Friday sermons
from the Mosques could have profound influence on
the Muslim masses. It was, therefore, necessary to
change their mind-set towards the challenges being
faced by the Muslim community in the socio-economic
fields. It was necessary to make them realise that
Quran does not discriminate between man and woman
and both enjoy equal rights. However, trying to
teach them Qur’an would have been
counter-productive.
Read more>>
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WORKSHOP
FOR
Awareness CREATION and Sensitization OF ULAMA
13th to 14th June 2012,
LUCKNOW
The Muslim Clergy, Mullahs and Moulavis, are often
blamed for the backwardness of
 the
Muslim community. It is held that not all the
Mullahs and Moulavis are well-versed in the
religious aspects of Islam. However, there is
nothing to restrain them from issuing fatwas on all
and sundry matters, without realising the adverse
impact that such fatwas may have on the
persons/families seeking religious guidance. Not all
the problems of the modern times have answers in the
Qur'an
and Hadith. It is for the Muslim Clergy issuing
fatwas to consider the issues carefully before
handing out their opinions on a given matter. The
challenges before the Muslim community are not only
numerous but also varied. The community is in need
of a proper guidance so that it does not find itself
mired in further complications by heeding to fatwas
that are not well thought of. The main purpose was,
therefore, to invite discussions of the
socio-economic issues than delve into religious
issues.
Read full report
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Workshop on Sensitisation of Police
Force.
 The
CSSS organised a 1-day workshop on ‘Sensitisation of
Police Force towards the weaker sections, minorities
and women during instances of violence or communal
disturbances, on 12 May 2012, at the Police Training
School, Khandala in Pune district of Maharashtra.
The event was coordinated by the Police Department.
There were as many as
500
participants, including the higher officers of the
Department. What was interesting about the workshop
was that the participants were women trainees. The
trainees included some Muslims also.
Read Full report>>
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workshop on
youth sensitisation and
AWARENESS ON
‘peace and communal harmony’
28th April to 30th April
CSSS in collaboration with CLEAR,
Calicut organised a three day workshop for youth
with
 the
objective of increasing the awareness level of youth
activists on areas such as secularism, communalism,
communal harmony etc.
Topics, resource person, participants, venue etc.
were decided in mutual consultation with both the
organisers. Participants were mobilised from the
local colleges as well as other universities in
Kerala. Many local activists who were interested in
the subject also participated in the programme.
Read Full report>>
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Community workshop on
Awareness CREATION and Capacity Building of Women
22 April 2012, B.K.S. School,
Manikpur, Vasai West.
In collaboration with the Vasai-Virar Committee of
the All India Democratic Women’s Association, the
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism organized
one day community workshop on ‘Awareness Creation
and Capacity Building of
 Women’
on 22 April 2012 at the B.K.S. School premises in
Manikpur, Vasai West. Stand Points of Gender
Equality was the theme for the Workshop.
Of the 40 participants of the workshop, 35 were
women and 5 men from Vasai-Virar area. The
participants comprised house-wives, working women,
and social activists etc. Mr. Riyas V.M, Programme
Executive of the CSSS facilitated and conducted the
proceedings of the workshop.
Read full report>>
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National
Seminar on Challenges to Women Empowerment: Role of
State, Religion and Good Governance
 The
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai
organised a 2-day National Seminar on Challenges to
Women Empowerment: Role of State, Religion and Good
Governance on 16-17 March 2012, 2012 in
collaboration with SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of
Law, Vile Parle West,
Mumbai.
The
seminars were organised with support from the ICSSR
(Western Region, Mumbai) and Ford Foundation.
Read full report>>
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National workshop on
'awareness
creation and capacity building of women
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10th & 11th March 2012, Varanasi, u.p.
 The
workshop began with the welcome speech by Dr. Muniza
Khan. Dr. Dipak Malik, Honorary Director, Gandhian
Institute of Studies gave the introductory speech
thereafter. He explained the rationale and objectives of
the workshop.
The first session on ‘Women’s Movement in India’ was
chaired by Mr. Sunil Sahasrabudhey. In his introductory
speech he focussed on the need for social change towards
a gender just society and how to go about it. The
resource person in this session, Ms. Meera Dutt gave a
detailed picture of women’s movements across the world
and India, its strengths and weaknesses. In her lecture
she covered the areas such as women’s wings in political
parties, caste conflict and women, role of women in
civil society movements ete.
read
full report>>>
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inter-collegiate workshop on
youth sensitisation and AWARENESS FOR
‘peace and communal harmony’
17th to 19th February 2012
The venue of the workshop was at
Lonar Village of Nagpur District, which is almost 12
km away
 from
Nagpur City. The participants and the resource
persons for the first day of the camp reached the
venue on 09.30 am in the morning itself.
Participants were MSW students from various colleges
around Nagpur.
The first two sessions were by Dr. Asghar Ali
Engineer on ‘Religion and Culture’ and ‘Cultural
Diversity in India’. Starting with question
regarding religion, culture, how they are
differentiated Dr. Engineer elaborated the topic
with examples from cultural practices in India. The
objective of the session was to sensitise the
participants regarding the difference between
culture and religions, which is often mixed and
misused by communal politicians to create conflicts
in the society. The session was live with number of
questions from the participants.
Read
Full report>>
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Youth camp on peace & conflict resolution: problems
and consequences
Date: 21 to 23 January 2012
A 3-day workshop was organised by the CSSS on
peace & conflict resolution:
problems and
 consequences
for college students. The
participants were the students of Sathaye college
along with their Professor Ms.Girija. They were
accommodated in the hostel of Sarvodaya, St.Pius
Bio-Medical Ethic Centre, Goregaon East, Mumbai.
They were supplied reading materials on the subject.
After registration of the participants, Ms. Minal
Mhatre and Riyas V M of the CSSS gave a brief
introduction about the rationale and objective of
the workshop, along with some ice breaking
activities. The participants were divided into three
groups and responsibility for ‘daily report’ and
bringing out a ‘newspaper’ on each day’s activities
were entrusted to them.
Read
Full Report>>
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Police
workshop,
on Sensitisation of Police Force for promoting communal
harmony and national integration
17-18 January 2012
 The CSSS organised a 2-day workshop on
‘Sensitisation of Police Force for promoting Communal
Harmony and National Integration” on 17-18 January 2012,
at the SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad. The event
was coordinated by COVA, Hyderabad. There were as many
as 189 participants, including 159 trainee-officers of
the Academy and serving officers of the IAS and IPS from
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan
States. A list of participants is attached.
The
workshop was inaugurated by Vibhuti Narain Rai, IPS,
Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi
University, Wardha (Maharashtra). Following the welcome
address by the Director, SVP Academy..Read
more>>
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TOT for Social Activists and NGOs at
Warangal and Kurnool Andhra
Pradesh on 22nd and 23rd
December 2011 on ‘Promotion of
Communal Harmony, Peace and development”
CSSS
conducted a Training of Trainers for Social Activists
and NGOs at Warangal on
 22nd
December 2011 on Promotion of Communal Harmony, Peace
and Development jointly with COVA, Hyderabad.
Expressing concern on the present
political trends of communal politics, dividing people
on caste, religion and region for selfish interests by
the politicians; the speakers emphasized on promotion of
better relations between people of different communities
and faiths. The speakers said that political leaders are
using the mask of religion and caste and exploiting the
society, cheating people, and creating differences
between people. The speakers were giving training (ToT)
to the members from NGO’s Students, and Social
Activists. They said that in the veil of religion
political leaders are stopping people from reaching to
the fruits of development and they are coming in to
power in the areas which are in disturbance. Dr. Asghar
Ali Engineer was Chief Resource Person at the ToT along
with other speaker viz. Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive
Director, COVA and Mr. Narasimha Murthy, Principal,
Wagdevi MBA College. Mr. Mohammed Raoof coordinated for
this ToT.Read
More>>>
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SEMINAR ON STATE, RELIGION AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism organised
a one-day National Seminar on State, Religion and
Women’s Empowerment on 17 December 2011, in
collaboration with the Institute of Indian Culture,
Mumbai at the latter’s seminar hall in Andheri.
The Concept
 The
principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian
Constitution, which not only grants equality to women,
but also empowers the State to adopt measures of
positive discrimination in favor of women. Empowerment
is one of the key factors in determining the success of
development in the status and position of women in the
society; for it is the women who 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 by
dint of their hard work and sincerity. More and more
corporate houses prefer hiring women for better and
result-oriented performance...Read
full report>>
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Two-day
Workshop on awareness creation and capacity building of
Muslim women, 1-2 December 2011, Ahmedabad.
The CSSS
organised a 2-day workshop at Pastoral Centre, St.
Xavier’s School, Indira Bridge, Ahmedabadon 1-2 December
2011 in collaboration with Ahmedabad-based
 NGOs
Janvikas Manch, Niswan, and Aman Samudaya. Mr. U. Hozefa
of Janvikas Manch acted as the coordinator.
This is the
third workshop organised in Ahmedabad since November
2010, targeting Muslim women who have suffered immensely
during the 2002 communal violence in the State. The
intention was to make sure that the Muslim families have
derived benefit from the last two workshops and made
progress in accessing the benefits available under the
PM’s new 15-point programme. Have they also picked up
the courage to face the Mullahs and Moulavis in case
they feel that the advice tendered by them is wrong and
is against the rights granted to Muslim women under the
Quran? Are they seeking the assistance of the local NGOs
for getting their problems solved? Do they still
entertain any doubts?
Read full
report>>
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Release of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer’s Autobiography
in Delhi
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer’s
autobiography A
Living Faith: My Quest for Peace, Harmony and Social
Change was
released in New Delhi on 20th July 2011
by Vice President of India Shri Hamid Ansari. Shri
Hamid Ansari praised Dr.
 Engineer’s
courage and his struggle against priesthood in his
own community. He likened him to Espinoza (16th
century rationalist philosopher from Holland) and
described him as modern day Espinoza. Espinoza,
Hamid Ansari Saheb said, was also excommunicated
because he fought against orthodoxy in his own
religion and Dr. Engineer also has been
excommunicated by priesthood of his own community.
He also said autobiographies are of two types one in
which the author projects his larger than life image
and praises his achievements very high. The other
type depicts mental and spiritual development. Dr.
Engineer’s autobiography is of second type.
Read full report>>>
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Meeting on communal
violence and targeted Bill
A meeting was held by Jnana Prabodhini,
Pune on 11th December 2011 on communal
violence and targeted Bill. There were about 200 people
in the meeting. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Chairman,
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism explained the
background in which the bill was framed
 and
he also threw detailed lights on the purpose with the
bill i.e. to prevent communal violence, to fix
responsibility in the event of communal violence
breaking out and to determine compensation to be paid to
those who died and to work out recompense for the
properties destroyed and to ensure relief and
rehabilitation of the victims. This bill became
necessary after Gujarat riots in which Government, the
Administration and police were complicit. The
presentation was followed by number of questions and
many alleged that it was anti-Hindus bill. Dr. Engineer
tried to allay their fear and said it is neither
anti-Hindu nor anti-other community, but it is anti
those who perpetrate violence, loot and destroy and
those who provoke violence. After lunch there was
discussion as to how to ensure riot free India. In this
discussion Mr. Arvind Bal, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Mr.
Mukadam, Mr. A Rajan and several others took part and
certain concrete suggestions were made. Dr. Engineer
suggested that this discussion is inadequate therefore a
separate discussion needs to be organized on this
subject.
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5-DAY
YOUTH CAMP ON
AWARENESS CREATION AND
SENSITIZATION
FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
The
CSSS organised a 5-day workshop on ‘Peace and Conflict’
resolution for youth from 15 November to 19 November
2011 at the
Bio-Medical Ethic Centre, St. Pius
College, Goregaon (E),
 Mumbai,
for Awareness Creation and Sensitisation of Youth on
Peace and Conflict Resolution.
40 students from Kamala Mehta College,
Bal Bharati College, DAV College of Mumbai and MSS
Institute of Social Work, Nagpur. participated in the
workshop. The objective of the workshop was to sensitise
the youth on various social issues like Communalism,
Ethnic violence, Gender-based violence, civil society
movement etc. The participants selected were either from
the National Service Scheme or students of Social Work,
with basic interest to learn about social issues and
work in the society. Resource persons were academicians
and social activists from Mumbai and Bangalore.
Read
Full Report>>
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Community Workshop
The
CSSS organised a community workshop at Kherwadi jointly
with Committee for the Right to Housing (CRH) a
Mumbai-based NGO, for the benefit of families li ving
in Kherwadi, an urban slum in Bandra. The women living
in the Kherwadi slum belong to all religions and are
forced to work, either from their homes or outside their
homes, to supplement the family income. No
government-sponsored poverty alleviation programme has
touched the lives of these women. Poor and illiterate,
the women have been found to have no knowledge of the
avenues
available for earning a decent minimum wage for the hard
work that they put in. The workshop was therefore aimed
at capacity building and awareness creation among the
women so that they know the worth of their work, improve
their income and do not get cheated.
Read full
report>>
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Youth Sensitizing
and Awareness Workshop
Center for Study of Society
and Secularism had organized a three day camp on ‘Youth
Sensitizing and Awareness’. 53 under graduates from DAV
College Bhandup
 had
participated in the camp at Sarvodaya, St Pius College
Campus, Goregoan (E), Mumbai on 13th to 15th September
2011.
The aim of the camp was to make
youth aware about their rights and duties towards civil
society. CSSS had invited renowned resource person from
different institutes to deliver their thoughts to
students on various topic. Mr. Riyas and Ms. Minal from
Research Dept coordinated entire youth camp.
Read full report
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