DRDO celebrates Women’s Day with fervour

PUNE: Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) International Women’s Day 2019 was celebrated under the aegis of DRDO Women’s Forum on March 8-9. A special workshop was held on March 9 based on the theme SMILES (Stree as Manager, Innovator, Leader, Entrepreneur and Scientists), in recognition of the multi-faceted roles played by working women and their multi-tasking skills. A delegate of 250 scientists from more than 50 DRDO institutions attended the event.

The SMILES workshop was inaugurated by Chief Guest Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, who also delivered a keynote address emphasising on giving thrust to change the mindset of the society for the advancement of women. 

The Guest of Honour, Maj Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, the first women Dean and Deputy Commandant of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), gave a motivating talk exhorting that women should take care of their own health. She further advised that women should grow together without growing apart.

The presidential address on behalf of DRDO was given by G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman DRDO. He praised the contribution made by DRDO women, giving credit to DRDO women scientists for the success of many noteworthy products and requesting DRDO women scientists to be in the forefront of delivering world-class technology to the country.

The workshop proceedings, comprising of more than 40 papers contributed by DRDO ladies, were released at the hands of dignitaries. Convener SD Naik handed over Deeplakshmi to NPOL Kochi, which has been designated as the host for IWD-2020.

The afternoon session consisted of a presentation of three award-winning technical papers, followed by panel discussions by eminent DRDO lady scientists on the focal theme of IWD-2019 ‘Balance for better’.