The Women Council of Durgapur Diocesan Women Fellowship for Christian Service was held from 25th to 27th September 2009 at the ESII auditorium of Durgapur.
Women from pastorates in the Diocese participated in the Council. The theme of the council was Women Empowerment and Road to Equality.
The Council started with an inaugural prayer service which was conducted by Rev. Swagata Das. The Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev Dr Probal Kanto Dutta lighted a Pradip and declared the council open. The president of the Diocesan Women Fellowship Smt. Rita Dutta thanked everyone in her speech and she also illuminated on the evaluation about the activities of women in the Diocese to overcome all the obstacles they experienced in these years of work and to share the joy what they had never before. The programme started with a dance show of the slum students, organized by the four study centers of the Diocese, run by Durgapur Diocesan Women fellowship for Christian Service.
On the second day Dr Dora Mondal, former Principal of Calcutta Women’s College and the Honorable Chief guest of that day discussed the present condition of women in society, and the status of women in Christian and Muslim community and also Women Empowerment in India. She also discussed Female Education, and the Fundamental Rights of Women in Society. Later Mrs Papiya Durairaua, lecturer of New Testament in Bishops College Calcutta focused on the hidden truth of the unnamed but important women in the Bible like the Samarian women and others. She also lighted on matters about women neglected and hated in history. Women were divided into groups and given some exercises by the Speakers of the day to evaluate their concept to overcome the social problems and to grow their awareness about women equality and the road to empowerment.
On the third day a Business Session was conducted where both activities and financial report was placed. After the report the following Executive Committee was elected:
President - Mrs Rita Dutta
Vice President - Swagata Das
Secretary - Mrs. Susmita Das
Asst. Secretary - Mrs Preety Dukuria
Treasurer - Mrs Supra Sinha
Members - (1) Mrs Mariam Tudu (2) Mrs Pushpanjali Teresa Naik (3) Mrs Paramita das (4) Mrs Sumana Saren (5) Mrs Sandhya Murmu (6) Mrs Bina Pradhan (7) Mrs Elizabeth Hembrom (8) Mrs Anima Hasda.