Updated on: Tuesday, December 08, 2015
In a bid to empower women by providing them better opportunities of education, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on December 3 inaugurated Odisha's first women's university. The university has been named after freedom fighter and social reformer Maa Rama Devi. It was also the occasion of birth anniversary of Maa Rama Devi.
According to PTI reports, Patnaik while inaugurating the college said that the social impact of women's education is greater than that of men in society. While development of society requires equal participation of women in all walks of socio-economic life, women's participation in higher education is below the desired level, he pointed out.
On Maa Rama Devi, Patnaik said that she was an icon of women's empowerment in the state . "Breaking the traditional world of conservatism with rare sense of courage, she had come out of the closet to dedicate herself to the nation and serve society. I hope, Rama Devi Women's University will be able to bring qualitative changes among its students, and gradually evolve as an institute that inspires the aspirations of women in Odisha," he said.
The Chief Minister said that the university was established with overall objective of increased participation of women in higher education and it will be an ideal institution that recognises and promotes gender equality. "I hope the university will initiate studies on women's empowerment, women's rights, gender equality and studies that will create confidence and enable our young women for forward movement in society," he said. Patnaik pledged to support the university to turn it into a centre of excellence.