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 Cover Story

 

BITSIAN WOMEN - YOU GO GIRL! 

BY Himabindu Chitta ('02), Krithika Kalyan ('00), Bharathi Balakrishnan ('00), Deeptha Ganapathy ('95), Aditi Pany ('00) and Dileepan Narayanan ('00) 

Community and Public Service

In today’s world, most of us who constitute the well-educated, highly qualified niche make that contribution towards social causes. Then, to most of us, this contribution equals monetary donations or a few hours of voluntary service outside of work. Then to others, it is their calling; their choice of profession; a mainstream activity- primarily, a way of life.

This section portrays the lives of those steeped in community welfare and Administrative services. It is a tribute to these fine women who have applied themselves to fields that perhaps come closest to making a real difference.

21.jpgEach is a shining example of grit, sincerity and commitment to cause.  We begin with the illustrious Kalpana Nayak ('90 Comp Science) who is the Commandant of the first all-women battalion of TN police profiled in NewsToday. Recently, J Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu commissioned India’s first All Women Police Battalion, led by Kalpana Nayak. Challenges on her job include providing commando training to over 1000 women police officers in TN. Unique in spirit and deed.

Dr. Jasveen (Dhillon) Jairath has charted a new course from the very beginning. A EEE graduate (1967-72), Jasveen dabbled in Dramatics and public speaking at BITS. She then followed that up with a Doctorate in Economics and switched to the social services line. She is currently the Regional Coordinator of CapNet South Asia which is an international network for capacity building in integrated water resources management. Jasveen’s interests lie in research, advocacy and networking in water resource development. Her message for us is simple and we suspect, straight from the heart. “Escape from narrow careerism and be adventurous”, she says.
While there are women who work in the public service or with NGOs and other development oriented organizations, there are several who break new grounds in education periodically. Smita A. has been working for the past 17 years in the field of social development, of which 12 years have been spent in elementary education. She has also worked on two major UEE programs in the country - Lok Jumbish in Rajasthan and District Primary Education Program (DPEP), a national program covering 18 states. Smita is currently the Director of Education Programs at the American India Foundation, New Delhi.

So does Chandra Anil, who as joint coordinator of AID in Chennai specializes in innovative educational methods to improve the effectiveness of education for primary and middle school children. Chandra, who graduated from BITS in 1995, says some young volunteers working on the course of India's development inspired her when she was still an engineer in electronic design. While working for seven years in Wipro Infotech and SCM Microsystems, she volunteered at AID-India. She eventually became a full-time social work volunteer at AID Saathi in 2003 after giving up her job.

22.jpgAnita Balasubramanian has had a thoroughly wholesome career in the social sector. After graduating from BITS in 1999, she has visited more than 80 groups in India involved in a variety of issues such as education, healthcare, tribal rights, conflict resolution and human rights and has learnt that all these issues are ultimately interconnected. She has also volunteered for several Asha chapters and has imbibed the spirit of the participative and democratic model that has made Asha so successful. Perhaps her crowning achievements have been the two organizations she has co-founded: The Learning Network that explores the various issues associated with education in a holistic manner, and Sangati, an organization that explores social and developmental issues through learning and related grassroots action. Anita has also conceptualized and managed Goodbooks Teachers Center, a resource center for teachers in and around Chennai. Given her affinity for learning and her irrepressible spirit, there’s no limit to what Anita can achieve in the future.

Praba Subramaniam (1993) has had a career in public service/nonprofit with a few 23.jpg gaps and breaks. She worked for sometime at Vidya Sagar (previously known as The Spastic Society of India in Chennai). She came to the US in 1999 and volunteered in several nonprofit organizations - mainly serving the technological needs of the disabled population. At Tulsa, OK Praba prepared a needs assessment report for implementing County's Headstart programs.  Since last year, she’s been mostly at home looking after her 3 yr old daughter and has started a small business on eBay that specializes in selling handmade accessories from India - products made by marginalized producer groups comprising women and the handicapped.

This section would be incomplete without a mention of Minakshi Krishnan, who has made a mark in the field of community service and is a recent BITSAA 30Under30 awardee in the category of Community Leadership. Minakshi completed the Mardi Gras Marathon in February 2005 and raised funds for the Whitman Walker clinic that works with HIV/AIDS patients in the U.S. She is the coordinator of Asha for the DC chapter. She   has also worked with a number of organizations in India including AID, and Kalpavriksh on issues as diverse as integrated rural development and health to women and child development. Committed all the way, Minakshi has also been a Service Corps volunteer and an American Red Cross volunteer for blood drives.

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