RONO HILLS, Nov 2: The Women’s Studies and Research Centre (WSRC) of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here organized its first Special Lecture on the theme “Gender and the Hill Economy of North-East India: Retrospection and Introspection” on Friday last.
The lecture was delivered by former Vice-Chancellor (i/c) and retired Professor Amitava Mitra, who reflected on the evolution of the hill economy in Northeast India, tracing its journey from traditional subsistence systems to modern state economies. He noted that the post-Independence formation of hill states marked a crucial turning point in the region’s development trajectory.
Highlighting challenges and opportunities, Prof Mitra emphasized the importance of technological advancement, institutional reforms, and infrastructure development for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. He also identified potential areas such as eco-tourism, horticulture, floriculture, and extraction of rare earth minerals as key avenues for economic diversification.
Addressing the gender dimension in development, Prof Mitra underscored that women’s participation and perspectives are integral to understanding the socio-economic dynamics of hill societies. Drawing on Boserup’s hypothesis on female work participation, he explored the interlinkages between women’s workforce participation, fertility patterns, and economic growth within the broader demographic and cultural contexts of the region.
Earlier, the event began with a welcome address by Prof Vandana Upadhyay, Director, WSRC, who spoke about the revival of the Centre and its renewed commitment to advancing gender research, advocacy, and capacity building.
Prof S K Nayak, Vice-Chancellor (i/c), in his address, lauded the efforts of Prof Upadhyay and her team for successfully organising the lecture and wished the WSRC continued success. Dr NT Rikam, Registrar, also appreciated the initiative for promoting academic dialogue on gender and development.
The lecture witnessed enthusiastic participation and vibrant discussion, marking a promising beginning to WSRC’s special lecture series and reaffirming the Centre’s role in advancing gender studies and research at Rajiv Gandhi University.