Women’s Empowerment for a Better Society

Arickal Devassy Memorial Trust for Education (A.D. Trust) organizes get-togethers of the scholarship holders every year with the intention of encounters, sharing as well as learning through the introduction of relevant modern subjects.

150 persons, among them sixty-one nursing students with their guardians, participated in the Annual Get-together of A.D. Trust Scholarship Holders on 4th December 2004 at Arickal Gardens, Muringoor, Kerala. In his Welcome address, Rev. Fr. Francis Arickal, President of A.D. Trust, explained the vision and mission of the Trust. According to his information, the Trust has awarded scholarships to 129 students until now with an amount of 2,056,060Rs.

Dr. M.C. Thomas, known under the writer name ‘Ponmala’, and Dr. Layoni Arickal, one of the Patron Trustees, conveyed felicitations. They both encouraged the scholarship holders to become active partners of the Trust in realizing the shared vision of solidarity.

Mrs. Valsa Sunny Thekkethala delivered the Key Note Speech on the “Role of Women in the Indian Society Today”. Very vividly, she explained the various important roles of women, for example, in the family, educational and professional fields and in religions. She rightly emphasized the fact that the women carry almost 2/3rd of the burdens without having an adequate chance to enjoy respect, recognition, and rewards.

The scholarship holders shared their experiences in the subsequent group discussion. These young women reflected their experiences in the family and in various sections of the society. They raised demands for substantial changes in all spheres of life in order to empower the women for shaping a lesser-corrupted society with more social justice and peace. All participants shared the opinion of the keynote speaker that women have to be recognized and accepted as equal partners.

Dr. Jose Antony from the Sanskrit University, Kalady, moderated the presentations of the scholarship holders in the plenary as well as an interactive session between the parents/guardians of scholarship holders and the representatives of A.D. Trust. Both the parties seized this occasion to exchange and clarify various concerns, expectations, and views with regard to the future of the scholarship holders.

Dr. George Arickal, one of the Patron Trustees, distributed the scholarships together with the Trustees of the Board. Fourty-five scholarship holders received relevant cheques for their studies in 2005 with an amount of 297,500/-Rs.

Mr. Paul A.V, Secretary of A.D. Trust, proposed Vote of Thanks.

The programme came to an end with a vegetarian lunch. The get-together was a grand success, especially due to the active participation of scholarship holders by sharing their ideas and performing well entertaining cultural items.