Women’s studies Research center

Women’s Studies Research Centre, Berhampur University was established in 1988 with two fold mission i.e Research and Action Program. In both the areas , Women’s Studies Research Centre has excelled in the state .It was then one of the 22 such centers in the country established with the support of the UGC in 1988. The Government of Orissa accorded permanent status to WSRC on the 1st April 1997 taking in to consideration its dynamic activities of a decade and prospect of future.

It has successfully incorporated women’s issues in teaching and research programmes within existing disciplines of Political Science, English, History, Economics, Home Science, LLM, IRPM etc. We have been successful in encouraging students and teachers of most of the disciplines to take up projects and independent research work on women’s issues. Women’s Studies Research Centre has taken initiative to eliminate invisibility of women both in the academics and in policy making by highlighting women’s specific problems relating to gender inequality, injustice and oppression both through research and action. In a way WSRC is busy in it’s pursuit to oppose reactionary forces and sexist attitudes among teachers and students.

Achievement/Credentials

Women’s Studies Research Centre, Berhampur University was established in 1988 with two fold mission i.e Research and Action Program. In Both the areas Women’s Studies Research Centre has excelled in the state .It was then one of the 22 such centers in the country established with the support of the UGC. The core staff liability of the WSRC, Berhampur University was taken over by the Government of Orissa permanently on the 1st April 1997 taking in to consideration its dynamic activities of a decade and prospect of future.

It has been successful by incorporating Women’s Studies issues in teaching and research programmes within existing disciplines of Political Science, English, History, Economics, Home Science, LLM, IRPM etc.

Program:

M.Phil (Women’s Studies)

The M.Phil course is of one year duration(calendar year) with intake capacity of 20.It shall comprise of two semesters. The first semester shall be for the course work (two theory papers) and the second semester shall be for preparation and submission of the dissertation. Dissertation must be related to women’s Studies with field work.

A candidate having a Post-Graduate Degree from Berhampur University or from any other University recognized as equivalent thereto with Second Class Master’s degree with a minimum 55% marks(50% marks or equivalent grade for the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Schedule Tribe categories) is eligible to apply for admission.

How to Enter into the Course Programme

Criteria for Selection: Admission into all M.Phil course shall be done through an entrance test followed by an interview. The Test shall comprise of one paper of 100(50 marks Objective Type Questions and 50 marks for short-answer type questions) of two hour duration. The Question Paper shall cover all the papers taught at the Post-Graduate level of the concerned subject .However, for admission into M.Phil for Women’s Studies the course will cover broad areas relating to Women’s Studies. The candidates should secure minimum 50% of marks in the entrance test (40% of marks for candidates belonging to the Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes) in order to be eligible to appear at the interview. The selection for admission into M.Phil Course shall be made on the basis of the career marks and the marks secured in the interview as prescribed by Berhampur University.

Curriculum / Syllabus

The Women’s studies syllabus is comprised of three papers. Two are theory papers for first semester. Third one is dissertation writing related to Women’s studies having field component. The students are required to appear at an examination at the end of the session. They are required to submit a dissertation. The two theory papers carry 200 marks (100 marks each), while the dissertation carries 100marks.

Click Here to Download the Syllabus 2013-14

Class Schedule

Theory classes start in January and ends by the May of each year. Along with theory classes students are oriented about their field work and dissertation writings. Students are encouraged for exposure, study trips, seminar participation and paper presentation during this period.

Ph.D.

A master’s Degree in any discipline with at least 55% of marks or an equivalent grade and 50% of marks or an equivalent grade for SC & ST and Physically challenged candidates shall be considered to be the qualifying mark to apply for Ph.D. Women’s Studies.

Provided further that, the candidate should have obtained the Master’s Degree or above from this University or the Guide should be from within the territorial jurisdiction of Berhampur

Every candidate, who qualifies the eligibility criteria as per regulation shall make an application for appearing at the UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ELIGIBILITY TEST (URET) in the prescribed form of the University.

The candidates who qualify for the URET have to appear for an interview to be conducted by the Staff Council of the concerned Department in the presence of an observer nominated by the Chairman, P.G. Council.

People

Dr. Urmimala Das

Director, WSRC

Ph.D., Allahabad University

EMail:urmidas1@yahoo.com.au

 Dr Urmimala Das started her research as an ICSSR Doctoral Fellow in G.B.Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad under the guidance of Prof. A.D.Pant and received Ph.D. degree in Political Science from Allahabad University in the Year 1989. In the year 1990 she joined in the Women Studies Research Centre, worked as faculty in the Centre. During more than two decades of experience she has offered different courses such as M.Phil and Ph.D in Women Studies students, besides guided many M.Phil, Ph.D scholars, published many papers, adjudicated several Ph.D thesis of Indian University, design many courses, deliver several talks at different Universities with in India. In addition to it she has many academic administrative assignments during this period. She has delivered lectures as a research person in various refresher courses of different interdisciplinary subjects like Sociology, History, Political Science and Women Studies. She is an evaluator of women’s programme for Govt. of India. She is a feminist and a part of women’s movement in India. She is a recourse person for many NGOs who are working in the gender line and her present research interests include Political Economy, Gender and State, Violence Against Women, Women’s Health and Women’s Movement.
 

Dr. Ganapati Prasad Chowdhury

Research Officer

 

 DR.G.P.Choudhury,Research Officer, Women’s Studies Research Centre was awarded his Ph.D in 1992 from Berhampur University entitled thesis “Administrative history of Orissa-1912-1936” under the guidance of prof J.K.samal. He published many articles in National level journals.

Research Area in the Department

Women’s Studies Research Centre has not only generated and analysed information relating to women but also has thrown challenges to conceptual frame works within the research work of various disciplines which are yet to be re-defined. Approaches, methods and tools of women’s studies research have become visibly different in comparison to general social science research methodologies. Much innovative methods are yet to be discovered to unravel the exploitation of women in private domain and specifically relating to sexuality etc.

Major Thrusts of Research
  • Women Movement
  • Political Economy of State, Women and Displacement, Women in Politics,
  • Empowerment of women,
  • Migration and Women
  • Gender Budgeting
  • Women in Politics
  • Tribal Women
  • Family, Marriage, and Women
  • Women’s Health
  • Violence Against Women
  • Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism.
  • Distressed Women
  • (Single Women, HIV / AIDS, Refugee , Prisoners, Widows, Physically Challenged)
Project Execution in the Department

“The Girl Child and Family”, sponsored by HRD, Government of India.