Sustainable Nitte

GENDER EQUALITY

PREAMBLE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

GENDER EQUALITY

The Global Goals SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This goal is essential for ensuring that women and girls are offered equal rights and opportunities across all sectors of society. In a society where violence and injustice against women persist increasing women's leadership roles and investments in gender equality are crucial at national, regional, and global levels. Nitte University promotes gender equality through various initiatives, programs, and policies. The following report reveals Nitte university’s commitment to this goal.

PROACTIVE STEPS TAKEN BY NU
Gender equality through policy and administrative support

Policies supporting gender equality:
With the various policies and guidelines, the Nitte (DU) is committed to gender equity, non-discrimination, and women empowerment.

Committees and cells for protecting and promoting gender equity:
Committees such as the Women’s Cell, Prevention of Sexual Harassment Cell, Equal Opportunities’ Cell, and Gender Sensitization Cell are present at both Institutional and University level that identify, counsel, and address any grievances regarding women staff and students.

Women in leadership roles:
With the University’s’ Focus on diversity during recruitment and fair compensation and promotion procedures, there are women holding administrative and leadership posts in the university.


JEWELS OF NITTE DU

	Prof.Dr. Indrani Karunasagar has been ranked 11th by Research.com, a leading academic research portal in the field of microbiology. The ranking is based on research publications, citations, and H- index. She was nominated member of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) Electronic Expert Group, to develop guidelines for monitoring antimicrobial use in aquaculture at the field level. The first online meeting was held on 3rd May 2023.
	Prof. Dr. Smitha Hegde received the intramural grant for the conduct of a tree audit of Mangalore Smart City. She and a group of dedicated student volunteers conducted the Tree Count of Mangalore City.
	Dr Kumuda Rao was awarded Gurukul's Bharat Gaurav Puraskar- 2023 award on the occasion of the International Award Conference on Interdisciplinary Innovative Research and Studies organized by JS University, Shikohabad, Uttar Pradesh & Institute for Social Reforms and Higher Education Charitable Trust, Uttar Pradesh [Registered with Govt of India, NITI Aayog NGO Darpan (MHRD)] held on 1st April 2023 at International Centre, Dona Paula, Goa.
	Prof.Dr. Fatima Dsilva, Principal, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences received the Nitte University Best Researcher Award at the Institutional level for the year 2022-23.
	Prof. (Dr.) Mithra N. Hegde was awarded as one of the top researchers of the country in the field of Dentistry at the launch of the book "Top 1000 Researchers in the Country” by Careers 360 on October 6th, 2023, at the Auditorium of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library, Teen Murti House, New Delhi.
	Dr Saumya Srivastava, Associate Professor, NIPT was conferred the ‘Significant Contribution Award’ in recognition of her remarkable work in the field of Physiotherapy DSU Physiocon 2023 organized by the Institute of Physiotherapy, Dayananda Sagar University at Bangalore, Karnataka on 3rd March 2023.
	Dr Sayeegeetha was honoured as & quote; Sammelana Gaurava-2023" by Kannada Sahtiya Parishat Ullala Taluk Ghataka on the occasion of Ullala Taluk Prathama Kannada Sahitya Sammelana for her work in Language Research field.
	Ms. Madhura R. J., Research Assistant, Department of NUCARE, won the augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) Award 2022, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India., New Delhi on 28th February 2023
	Dr. Marina Koland, Professor & Head of Department of Pharmaceutics along with two other staff published a textbook of “Industrial Pharmacy” under I. K International Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi; Year: 2023; ISBN: 978-93-90620-65-4. She has published an Indian Patent entitled “Keratin based hydrogel buccal films for the treatment of oral ulcers “on 1st December 2023

WOMEN ACHIEVERS


WOMEN IN STEM
Best researcher awards:

• Ms. Nidhi S Shetty has been awarded Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for the project titled 'Target induced nanoparticle arrangements: Creating a polyvalent multifunctional platform for nucleic acid detection'.
• Dr. Neetha Nirupam Jathanna has been awarded the Women scientist DBT BioCARe grant for the project titled “Eliciting degradation of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) using a novel endophytic bacterial consortium” for three years.
• Dr.Usha Adiga, Professor, Department of Biochemistry for being awarded the Best Researcher Award 2023 of Nitte DU.
• Dr.Neetha Nirupam Jathanna received a certificate of appreciation for publishing open access with Elsevier between 2020–2022, as one of her articles was linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, helping to tackle some of the world's greatest challenges.
• Ms. Akshatha Naik and Ms. Neeksha have been awarded the National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST) 2022-23 from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Research grants:

• Dr. Geethu Venugopalan, a second-year postgraduate student from the Department of Periodontology, received the prestigious David Steflik Memorial Student Research Grant of 2500 dollars from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Rahul Bhandary.
• Dr. Akhila D.S, Assistant Professor, has been awarded a VSGT grant for the project entitled” Deciphering the pathogenicity of Streptococcus agalactiae obtained from fish” for the year.
• Dr. Nireeksha Shetty received a grant of Rs. 15 Lakhs from the Ministry of MSME, VIJNAN Foundation for Innovation Research in Science & Technology (MSME Hackathon).
• Dr. Juliet Mohan Raj, Assistant Professor, has been awarded an ICMR grant for three years under investigator led scheme for the project titled “Phage tail protein conjugated quantum dots for the multiplexed detection of urinary tract pathogens.”

Women-focused research publications:

• Mrs. Suchithra B S, completed a PhD degree from Nitte (Deemed to be University) study on the Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise and Bladder Re-training Program on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Women with Stress, Urge, and Mixed Urinary Incontinence in Selected Tertiary Care Hospital at Mangalore under the guidance of Dr. Fatima Dsilva, Principal, NUINS and Dr Rajeev TP, Professor and HOD Department of Urology, Justice KS Hedge Charitable Hospital.

Recognitions:

• Dr. Veena Shetty, Professor from the Department of Microbiology, KSHEMA has been appointed as a ‘Scientist from a different biological discipline’ of CCSEA, New Delhi, for the ‘Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of A.J. Institution of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kuntikana, Mangalore for 5 years.
• Dr. Bharathi Ganesh, HoD and Professor, was a member of the Advisory Committee at the ICCRCBM - 2023, a prestigious international conference on climate-resilient construction and building materials, held at NITK Surathkal from 3rd to 5th March 2023.
• Prof Dr Vidya Ajila was the resource person for Master class 2023 on the topic “Oral Manifestations and Dental Considerations in Bleeding and Clotting Disorders” on 2nd May 2023.
• Dr. Anusha Rashmi, Associate Professor from the Department Community Medicine, K S Hegde Medical Academy was presented the Presidential Appreciation Award in Faculty Category, in recognition of the contribution made to IAPSM and the excellent work done in the field of Community Medicine.
• Ms. Divine Nathalie Prato was awarded the “Promising Prostho Star Award – 2022-23” for securing the highest marks in the subject of Prosthodontic and Crown & Bridge during the 9th IPS Karnataka State Conference, Preserve-Prevent-Promote was held at Navodays Dental College & Hospital, Raichur on 10th & 11th April 2023.
• Ms. Sharanya K N, NMAMIT was selected for Kanaka Puraskara at the ‘Kanaka Keerthana Gangothri’ program organised by Kanakadasa Research Centre, Mangalore University. The award was
• Ms. Chaithra Hebbar, Ms. Saisree Iyer, Ms. Shruthi Padavu and Ms. Vanessa Fernandes have been awarded the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Single Girl Child Fellowship (SJSGC) 2022-23.

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
International Women's Day:
The Womens Forum of Various Institutions Celebrated the International Womens Day On 8th March 2023. The theme of Women’s Day 2023 was: Digit: ALL, Technology, and Innovation for gender equality. Chapter conducted a three-day workshop 'GirlGeeks 2023' designed to provide women with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the tech industry.

Workshop 'GirlGeeks 2023':
The Department of ISE at NMIT and IEEE Computer Society Bangalore Chapter conducted a three-day workshop 'GirlGeeks 2023' designed to provide women with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the tech industry.


NITTE ENSURES A SAFE HAVEN FOR WOMEN
Self-defence Training Program – Swaraksha for Women:
Martial Artist, Mr. Karthik S. Kateel and his mother and associate, Mrs. Shobhalatha from the 'Swaraksha for Women Trust,' Mangalore conducted a training session which included demonstrations of different situations of assaults & harassment, the awareness that should be developed during such situations and the various options to defend oneselves.




A talk on DHEERA - Stop violence against women:
A talk on DHEERA - Stop violence against women was conducted in the school on 7th January 2023. 89 students from Classes 9 and 10 attended the talk. DHEERA is a flagship program of The Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecological Societies of India in partnership with UNICEF.


Workshop on 'Legal Provisions for Women and Child Adoption Act':

Department of Psychiatry, K.S.Hegde Medical Academy in association with Directorate of Child Protection, Dakshina Kannada, Centre for Women and Child Welfare, Child protection unit and Women's cell of K.S.Hegde Medical Academy, organized a workshop on “Legal provisions for Women and Child Adoption Act “on 28th March 2023. The program highlighted the legal provisions for women in distress and the services provided bym“SAKHI” one-stop centre, Dakshina Kannada.

NITTE CELEBRATES WOMANHOOD
KSHEMA -Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day:
A health education program on sexual health for antenatal and postnatal mothers was held on 17th February 2023 at the Epidemiological Unit of K S Hegde Hospital. The resource person Dr. Stephie, spoke about women's reproductive health, proper spacing between children, proper safety measures, menstrual health, family planning, breastfeeding, and hygiene practices. All this was done in the form of storytelling in the local language.


Awareness On Gender Equality:

Gender Champions of NGSMIPS conducted a workshop on Gender equality for 1st Pharm D and D Pharm students on the 18th of JANUARY 2023. Gender Champions Mohammed Harfaz and Ananya S interacted with the students about Gender equality and the problems associated with it. There was also a detailed discussion on the LGBTQ community. The purpose of this workshop was to educate and seek the opinions and views of the student community and to explain their roles in educating the general public to a better understanding of gender equality. A survey was conducted during the workshop and the students were provided with questionnaires in digital media through Google Docs.