Gender senisitization programme held in Sibsagar Commerce College

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: An audio-visual gender sensitization programme was organized in Sibsagar Commerce College on the topic 'Discrimination and Marginalization' by Women's Studies Cell and Cultural and Literary Cell of the college recently where queer rights activist Milin Dutta joined as resource person. Milin Dutta, formerly known as Mili, a transman himself and the founder of Anajoree, a non-profit organization operational in Assam since 2018.

Under the aegis of Anajoree, Milin Dutta works for the accessibility of rights of marginalized communities on seven focal areas- education, gender and sexuality, environment, art and craft, community health, eldercare and animal welfare and climate change. In his speech, Dutta spoke about his own battles in life faced during the journey of transformation from female to male. He stated about the inner and outer conflicts of LGBTQ community and earnestly requested the members present to accept everyone as they are and raise voice against the discrimination towards the LGBTQ community.

In the programme, a film named Fireflies-Jonaki Porua directed by Prakash Deka and produced by Milin Dutta was screened in front of a large audience. Jonaki Porua is the first ever Assamese film addressing the issue of queer community that has been honoured with Jury's special mention in the feature films category in the 67th National Film Awards.

The programme started with words from Mrinali Mahanta, coordinator, Women's Studies Cell, who hoped for a gender-equal society in the near future followed by a felicitation programme moderated by Dr Lakhimi Dutta, coordinator of Cultural and Literary cell, in honour of guest Milin Dutta and Principal, Dr Saumar Jyoti Mahanta who was recently appointed as president of Assam College Principals' Council.

Principal Dr Mahanta, in his address, urged everyone to be flag-bearers of a gender-equal society and to be empathetic, especially towards the marginalized queer community. Vice-Principal, Dr Ratul Sharma also expressed his view on gender equality.

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