The theme of the Ranchi Regional Meeting was “Participative Leadership for Equal Discipleship”. It was jointly organized by ICWM and Streevani Pune at the Xavier Institute of Social Service on the 16th & 17th January, 2015.
Sr. Lalita Lakra DSA welcomed the gathering and Sr.Julie George while situating the workshop explained the current situation of women and the need for a movement like ICWM to give a united voice to Christian women in the country. She further explained the vision and mission of ICWM. The inaugural message by Fr. Marianus SJ, The Provincial of Ranchi was on the the current situation of women in the society and the role of women need to play in society.
Ms. Raynah Braganza mainly dealt with the Gender Policy of the Catholic Church in India. Before going into the details of gender policy she spent time explaining different kinds of violence experience d by women. She said, the Gender policy, when implemented in all its intent will become a change agent for transforming the Church for future generations
Sr. Lalita conducted a session on women’s empowerment. She pointed out that women have power within, how we need to tap and use that innate power. Sr. Julie created awareness on legal rights of women including the Sexual Harassment at Workplace(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act,2013. She touched up on Divorce Law, domestic violence Act,2005 and other important provisions for women.
In conclusion 3 women summed up their personal experience of what we had been discussing for two days.