International Women’s Day Celebrations at NSTL

International Women’s Day Celebrations (IWDC)-2023 with the theme:  “DigitAll: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality" was organized at Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), the premier naval research laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Visakhapatnam in a befitting manner on 09.03.2023 in Mohapatra Manasi Auditorium, NSTL Complex with the active participation of women employees and spouses of male employees of NSTL. On this occasion, distinguished guests felicitated the women achiever 'Guna Pravallika Vuppala', National skater and kuchipudi dancer. Prizes were distributed by the distinguished guests to the winners of various competitions that were conducted to women employees and spouses of male employees of NSTL. Celebrations were concluded with cultural programmes by the children of NSTL officers & staff. 

Chief Guest on the occasion is Mrs. S. Sirisha, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-Harbour), Visakhapatnam and Distinguished Guests on the occasion are Dr. Shruthi Tewari, Professor, IIM, Indore and Mrs. Y Lakshmi, first lady of NSTL & President MKM (Mahila Kalyan Manch).

The programme started with garlanding Bharat Ratna Dr. Abdul Kalam’s statue by the distinguished guests along with women fraternity of NSTL, at the entrance of NSTL. The Celebrations were formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the Chief guest & Distinguished Guests; Dr. Y Sreenivas Rao, Outstanding Scientist & Director NSTL and Smt. M. Sujatha, Scientist-F & Chairperson IWDC-2023. 

Chairperson of IWDC-2023 Smt. M Sujatha, Scientist ‘F’ welcomed the participants. She gave details of IWD, its genesis and growth.  She explained how women fraternity is being encouraged in NSTL/ DRDO.

In his speech, Dr. Y Sreenivas Rao, OS & Director NSTL applauded women fraternity to stand behind everyone’s success and for finding solutions to critical problems in various capacities.  He praised women employees of NSTL who are working beyond office hours also.  He concluded his speech by comparing each and every woman with Goddess Durga, quoting Bammera Potana’s famous Telugu poem “Ammalaganna Amma….”.

In her speech, Chief Guest Mrs. S. Sirisha explained the concept of gender equality with the Ardha Naareeswara tattva.  She explained in detail various Acts like POCSO Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, etc. that were meant for the protection of a woman since childhood.  She appealed all to install Disha app in the mobiles.  She concluded her speech with a request to habituate ethical and moral values in the children.

In her speech, distinguished guest Dr Shruthi Tewari gave an insightful talk on “Innovation & Technology for Gender Equality”.  She opined that any family with no gender bounds can create future leaders irrespective of gender.  She expressed that gender equality can be achieved not giving special treatment to women.

NSTL women employees and Members of MKM jointly donated Rs.10,000 each to ‘Manakutumbam’ a home for old age women and "Manasu" an orphanage for girls of age less than 15 years and Rs.13,000/- to Mrs. Hymavathi Patina, founder of  Care and Love children Welfare Society.

Members of MKM; women employees and family members of male employees; Scientists and Officers; Members of Works Committee, JCM, NSTL Civil Employees Union; and other NSTL personnel participated in this colorful programme.

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