Aasra is a Kolkata based social organization known for its initiatives with a mission to serve under privileged women and children in sectors of education and health care. 

Aasra, time to time organizes seminar to empower women on different subject. This year too , a seminar and an exhibition of photography on “Empowerment of Women is Empowerment of nation” was organized on 10th & 11th of December 2011 at Satyajit Ray auditorium, Indian Council of cultural relation (ICCR) ministry affairs (Govt of India).9A Ho-chi Minh Sarani Kolkata-17. 

The program started with welcome speech by the director of Aasra Mr.Mumtaz Shamsi then he invited Shayne Hyrapeit a well known singer who came on stage and churned out some inspiring melody. Then Smt. Mamta Sharma inaugurated the ceremony by the lightening the lamp. There after Aasra felicitated three achievers namely Mrs. Talat Mahmood ,Kainat Parveen and Miss Richa Sharma who contributed in the field of cyber crime ,education and swimming respectively. Aasra also felicitated the panelists. 

Then the panel discussion started and those who were present and took part in the seminar were 
1 Madam Mamta Sharma (Chairman of National Commission of women) 
2 Mr. Mahesh Bhatt. (Famous Bollywood Director) 
3. Sunanda Mukerjee.(Chairperson West Bengal for women Commission) 
4. Mrs.Mahasweta Devi (social activist and writer) 
5 Bickram Ghosh (Percussionist) 
6 Jaya Seal Ghosh (Tollywood actress) 
7 Aloka Nanda Roy (Social Activist) 
8 Mrs. Rita Bhimani (T2 Columnist) 

In the panel discussion Smt Mamta Sharma expressed her view that the prestige and position of women can be enhanced in all spheres of activity through higher education. Women can take part in politics and management they are educated. Education helps women to become better mothers with better family health perspective. Women can equally contribute to the income of, the family too. Education helps women to move from non-monetized to monetized sectors, invisible to visible and unpaid to paid activities and thus allowing them to participate in the household economy. This in turn enhances their status and decision making power in the family. It is a major step towards their equality and empowerment. 

Lastly it was concluded that we need certain measures to empower women. Apart from this we need a long campaigning and networking with ngos those who are working in the field of women empowerment before the end of the programme a 10 min Audio Visual was shown to the participants along with the guests on the empowerment of women. The evening of talk, views, music and ideas ended with vote of thanks by Ms. Sameera Ahmed

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