By Dr Antara Ghatak*

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) is a Jesuit University in Kolkata, India. Established in 2017, and based on Ignatian principles of magis and cura personalis, the university carries forward the legacy of education by the Jesuits in India. With the vision to become one of the foremost educational institutions in the country, promoting excellence in education and research, the university is inspired by the charism of forming men and women for others. SXUK, as a centre of distinction, strives to promote a society based on love, freedom, liberty, justice, equality and fraternity with a specific mission.

The Women and Gender Development Cell (WGDC) at SXUK, was instituted in 2019 in accordance with the guidelines of the University Grants Commission Regulations, 2015, which mandate the prevention, prohibition, and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in institutions of higher educational. Established as a statutory body, the WGDC aims to foster a gender-sensitive, inclusive, and equitable academic environment. It functions as a crucial platform to promote gender awareness, ensure safety and respect for women on campus, and integrate gender discourse within the broader intellectual and social life of the university. In its commitment to inclusivity, the Cell also engages in sensitization and health awareness programs, capacity-building initiatives, and gender audits that evaluate representation, equity.

Between 2020 and 2025, the WGDC undertook several significant initiatives that reflect its ongoing dedication to gender sensitization and empowerment. The Cell’s objectives are rooted in the promotion of gender equality through dialogue, education, and participation. It strives to facilitate critical discussions around gender and social justice, organise workshops and lectures that deepen understanding of gendered experiences, and ensure that the university remains a safe and supportive environment for all genders. It is with this aim that the WGDC collaborated with the Legal Aid Clinic under the aegis of Xavier Law School which provides a platform to inculcate the spirit of public service and extend legal counselling to under-privileged communities.

"Gender Champions" from the Legal Aid Centre addressed university students across disciplines and spoke on issues related to gender-based discrimination, endeavouring to create avenues for legal and emotional support. A Self-Defence Training Camp with Kolkata Police, held for students with a special focus on female students, taught practical safety skills and promoted self-reliance. The WGDC hosted a workshop on “Gender Sensitization and Rights of Women Employees”, in collaboration with the Regional Labour Office Government of West Bengal. The session brought together faculty, staff, and students in an interactive dialogue on gendered experiences in the workplace.

To commemorate International Women’s Day WGDC organizes various programs, special lectures that promote conversations about gender roles and the nuances associated with it. A series of lectures delivered by eminent academics, industry figures, actors, and writers have been consistently held since 2020. The lectures titled, “Re-evaluating Girl Power: Representation in Media and Popular Culture”, “What does it mean to be a Feminist?”,'Women’s Rights are Human Rights”, foregrounded the intersections of empowerment, inclusivity, and equity, encouraging students to engage critically with the structural challenges that continue to shape women’s lives. The Cell celebrated Teachers’ Day in 2024 by organising an essay competition on the theme “Celebrating Roles and Responsibilities of Women Teachers”. The event invited first-semester undergraduate students to reflect on women’s contributions to the field of education and their complex positioning within pedagogical and social frameworks.

Continuing its efforts, the WGDC hosted a camp and gender sensitization workshop in collaboration with the outreach initiative of the university, Xavierians in Action and the Xavier’s Commerce and Management Society. The initiative combined lectures, counselling and an outreach program for the girls in a nearby school, foregrounding women’s health and hygiene awareness as an essential component of institutional culture.

The celebration of International Women’s Day celebration is another milestone activity of the WGDC. The legacy of commemorating women’s contribution and achievements in social and professional spheres form the basis of the programs that mark the event. From organizing special lectures on women’s rights to Health Camps for all the women members of the university the cell’s initiatives upheld the Cell’s holistic approach to gender welfare, recognising that empowerment includes not only rights and representation but also physical and emotional well-being.

The WGDC also undertook a comprehensive gender audit during 2023-2024 to assess inclusivity across the university. The audit examined the gender ratio among students, faculty, and staff; representation of gender perspectives within the curriculum; and the availability of gender-sensitive facilities. The findings will inform future policies, ensuring that inclusivity and gender equity remain central to institutional planning.

We continue to play a vital role in advancing the principles of gender justice, inclusivity, and equality. Through a sustained programme of sensitization, dialogue, and collaborative engagement, it reinforces the university’s commitment to building a community grounded in respect, safety, and empowerment. The WGDC’s initiatives, spanning education, health, and social awareness, reflect its vision of a university that not only responds to gender concerns but also actively shapes a more equitable academic and social environment and only within the premises but also beyond it championing the moto Nihil Ultra of our dearly loved university.

* Dr Antara Ghatak, Convener, Women and Gender Development Cell, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata.