Institute of Social Science Education and Research

Institute of Social Science Education and Research (ISSER)
Panjab University
Chandigarh
23 February 2026

Sensitisation Workshop on “Creating Gender-Sensitive & Safe Work Environment”

The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and Institute of Social Science Education and Research (ISSER), Panjab University, Chandigarh, organized a sensitization workshop on “Creating Gender-Sensitive & Safe Work Environment” on 23 February 2026 at the Seminar Hall, PU-ISSER.

The workshop commenced with a formal welcome address by Prof. Madhurima Verma, Presiding Officer, ICC and Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. She welcomed the keynote speaker, faculty members, and participants, and underscored the importance of sustained institutional efforts to foster gender sensitivity and safe academic spaces.

The keynote address was delivered by Rajesh Gill, Professor (Retd.), Department of Sociology and Ex-Fellow, PU Senate. In her address, Prof. Gill highlighted the paradox of rising crimes against women despite declining gender gaps and increasing literacy rates. She emphasized that education and exposure alone are insufficient to address gender insensitivity. Instead, she stressed the need for self-discipline and self-restraint rooted in individual introspection.

Prof. Gill observed that gender insensitivity does not exist in isolation but is deeply embedded in unequal power dynamics. She described many contemporary offences as “white-collar crimes,” noting the alarming rise in cybercrimes facilitated by technology and artificial intelligence. She urged participants to move beyond reliance on external regulatory mechanisms and instead cultivate ethical responsibility and conscious behavioral change.

The workshop concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Prof. Anju Suri, Coordinator, PU-ISSER, who expressed gratitude to the keynote speaker, the ICC members, faculty, and participants for their active engagement.

The program reinforced the University’s commitment to promoting gender sensitivity, ethical conduct, and safe institutional environments through dialogue, awareness, and collective responsibility.