Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 29: St Aloysius B.Ed College, a prestigious institute in the field of teacher education in the city organized a day long district level inter-collegiate seminar on ‘Zero Discrimination: A Voice to the Voiceless’ under the leadership of director Fr Eric Mathias SJ.
Fr Dr Leo D’Souza SJ (director, laboratory of Applied Biology, St Aloysius College Autonomous) the chief guest of the programme inaugurated the seminar by lighting the lamp.
In his inaugural address he spoke about the impact of home as the first place where gender roles and stereotyping are taught about. “Gender discrimination learned at home impacts children in their early formative years and sets the scene for the way a girl is treated throughout her life.
He also highlighted that the idea that boys are somehow better and preferable to girls is deeply embedded in most societies and that teachers must change their mind in assigning roles in school on the basis of gender which would help us to create a society of equality.
Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ, rector, St Aloysius College Institutions, presided over the programme.
In his presidential remarks he said, “Our society continues to be subjected to discrimination and exploitation in the name of caste, religion, language, colour, geographical location and financial status.”
He also added the discrimination shown in society towards HIV infected and affected.
In the first session, eminent social activist Dr Isabella Xavier (Regent, Dharavad University) spoke on the theme Violation of Human Rights. In her speech she highlighted, human rights are those minimum rights which are compulsorily obtainable by every individual as he or she is a member of human family. The constitution of India also guarantees the equality of rights of men and women. However, there are threats for human rights of Women in India. A wide gap between theory and practice of Practice of human rights can be seen everywhere. Though women have equal rights as compared to men, even then the condition of women in Indian societies is miserable.
Dr Akkai Padmashali (trans-woman and founder Ondede, Bengaluru) delivered a speech on Discrimination and Violation faced by transgender in India. She shared her experience as a trans-woman and her initiation into transgender community at an early stage of her life.
She expressed her sadness over the legal system against transgender community in India and her struggles to implement favourable legislation for the rights of sexual minorities. Transgenders frequently undergo social rejection and sexual harassment. Her dream is to envision a society which is built on the pillars of gender equality and gender identity. She clarified various doubts of the participants.
Dr Farita Viegas, principal, accorded a cordial welcome to the gathering. Anisha and team invoked blessings. Ashwin introduced the chief guest. Shernaz Viola compered the programme. Students from various colleges of the city took part in the occasion. They expressed it was a wonderful experience to gain knowledge about transgender and appreciated St Aloysius B.Ed College for creating such an opportunity to learn about gender diversity. Jerome D'Souza, convener organized the seminar.