“Dastarkhwan”: A women driven students’ canteen of Jamia University

Jamia Millia Islamia University has started a new canteen “Dastarkhwan”. This canteen is being run by EKTA –a self-help group for women, Zakir Hussain Memorial Welfare Society (ZHMWS) from neighbouring area of Jamia. 

 

The ZHMWS has been providing training for entrepreneurship and leadership to the members of this group. It was inaugurated by Mrs. Salma Ansari wife of Hon’ble Vice President of India in the presence of Prof.  Talat Ahmed Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia on 16th January 2015. This canteen is situated behind the Zakir Hussain Central Library.

 

The canteen is run completely by women, and all workers are women. This is an effort by the Jamia to empower women and develop entrepreneurship among women of disadvantaged section. Since economic development is the key to empowerment, this initiative would help these women to have a dignified position and gender equity in their community. All women running this canteen belong to Jamia Nagar Community and are from disadvantaged section where most women are treated as housewives, being in Hijab. There is a lot of discrimination on gender especially about working of women and girls, they treated badly.

 

This canteen is more hygienic and cleanliness is better taken care of here. There are lots of dishes and beverages in the menu of new canteen in respect of other canteens situated in the vicinity of Jamia. This canteen has provided an option to many students to get healthy snacks, breakfast and lunch. 

 

Source: Md. Asif Sayeed, click4college Specialist