Pune: In the last few decades, Dalits and OBCs have awakened, now the women are awakening. In the state, under “Ladaki Bahin Yojana” women got 7500 rupees, with this money women started small businesses like selling vegetables and sarees which is a good sign but now whichever government comes it will be difficult to stop this scheme/Yojana. Although this situation Is at the local level, there is a possibility that this scheme may affect other important government schemes, said Neerja Chowdhury, senior journalist and political commentator.

Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in association with the Pune International Centre (PIC) organized 8th Dileep Padgaonkar Memorial Lecture on Monday, 25th November 2024 at Symbiosis Vishwabhavan Auditorium, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune. Ms. Neerja Chowdhury , Senior Journalist and Political Commentator was invited as the Speaker for this lecture. The topic of her lecture was – Political Decisionmaking at the Top- Growing Challenges.

Speaking at the occasion, Neerja Chowdhury said, the decisions taken at the highest-level affect crores of people and generations of the country. For example, the Mandal Commission's decision. After this decision, the power of OBC started increasing in the country, which is why Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of the country today. The decision taken by Rajiv Gandhi in the Shah Bano case caused an uproar in the country. The question was how to deal with it. The forward-thinking Prime Minister did not know how to deal with the old India.

Till now, women used to vote according to the vote of the men in their house. Now this situation has changed. Women are earning money through which they are getting empowered. This century belongs to the women of the country, Neerja Chowdhury added further.

The session was chaired by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS, President PIC. Dr. S. B. Mujumdar, Founder & President Symbiosis and Chancellor, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) presided over the function. Latika Padgaonkar was also present on the occasion.

Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman, Vice-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, delivered the welcome address, Shri Abhay Vaidya, Director, Pune International Centre delivered the vote of thanks and Lisa Pingale was the anchor of the program, stated a press release.