IGNOU Celebrates International Women’s Day, 2026 with Walkathon, “SwadeShePreneurs” Initiative and Special Lecture
Media Release
Issued on: 10 March, 2026 by IGNOU Delhi
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through its School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS), Committees Against Sexual Harassment (CASH Committees – Apex Committee ACASH, IGNOU Committee ICASH and Regional Services Division RSD CASH) and National Centre for Innovations in Distance Education (NCIDE) celebrated International Women’s Day with a series of activities at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Convention Centre on March 10, 2026. The activities were relayed live to the IGNOU Regional Centres across the country.
The celebrations began with a Walkathon at the IGNOU Campus symbolizing solidarity and commitment to women’s empowerment. The Walkathon was flagged off by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, Prof. Uma Kanjilal.
This was followed by the inauguration of the exhibition titled “Celebrating the Spirit of SwadeShePreneurs” at the Convention Centre Lobby by the Guest Speaker Smt. Mughda Sinha, IAS, Managing Director, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), along with the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. The exhibition highlighted women entrepreneurs and their contributions to self-reliance and inclusive development.
In her Welcome Address, the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, Prof. Uma Kanjilal emphasized the University’s strong commitment to gender inclusion in education. She highlighted that IGNOU has achieved gender parity in education, reflecting the institution’s significant role in expanding access to higher education for women across the country, particularly those belonging to disadvantaged groups and regions.
She also highlighted the progression of women in IGNOU’s workspaces, noting that 15 out of the 21 Schools of Study are headed by women Directors and that a significant proportion of women contribute as faculty members, administrators, and research scholars. She emphasized that Open, Distance and Digital Learning (ODDL) has immense potential in further strengthening women’s participation in higher education.
The Special Lecture delivered by Smt. Mughda Sinha, IAS, Managing Director, ITDC, was one of the key highlights of the celebrations. Her lecture on “Women at the Helm” provided deep insights into women’s career progression in the context of equality of opportunity and equity of outcomes.
She appreciated IGNOU for providing quality and affordable education to all sections of society, particularly women, who form a significant proportion of the University’s enrolment. She emphasized that education fosters both equality and equity, empowering women to contribute meaningfully to social and economic development.
A United Nations documentary titled “Women Rise for All” was also screened during the programme, presenting global perspectives on gender equality and highlighting its various dimensions.
Earlier in the programme, Prof. Annu J. Thomas, Director, School of Gender and Development Studies, introduced the theme and objectives of the event, emphasizing the importance of promoting gender equality, entrepreneurship, and leadership among women.
Dr. Ranjita Panda, Chairperson of RSD CASH, presented an overview of the Committees Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) and discussed the initiatives taken by IGNOU to ensure a safe and supportive environment for women across academic and administrative spaces.
As part of the celebrations, certificates and mementos were presented to women entrepreneurs by the Guest Speaker and the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of IGNOU in recognition of their efforts and achievements.
The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Prof. Jitendra Kumar Srivastava, Registrar (Administration Division), who thanked the dignitaries, organizers and participants for making the celebration meaningful and impactful.
Regards
Rajesh Sharma
PRO, IGNOU
