PANJIM: Acknowledging activities carried out by Non Governmental Organizations in various sectors, Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha suggested renaming them ‘Voluntary Organizations’.
Addressing a day-long awareness camp on gender sensitization at Goa University on Tuesday, she opined that it was incorrect to denote non-funded organizations with a negative appellation. “Such selfless organizations should not be denoted with a negative appellation of NGO. Instead, describe them as voluntary organizations,” the GU Chancellor said at the seminar organized by the varsity’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
Drawing from her experience, Sinha dwelt on the traditional approach to gender, collective sensitivity, social parameters that govern the gender roles and values of society. She further appealed for need-based quality changes in tune with the demands of social transformation and harmonious co-existence across genders.
“Women hold a special status as multi-taskers and caregivers. The enactment of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace: Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013 has finally provided women the rightful protection against sexual harassment and recourse to justice,” she said adding, “The law is in addition to the fundamental rights granted by the Indian Constitution and the privileges available to women under the Domestic Violence Act.”
