Utkal University

Promotes gender equality, social justice, women's empowerment, and inclusive development through critical inquiry and interdisciplinary scholarship.

The School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University, established in 1996, is the first State Women’s Studies Centre in Odisha.

It offers postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes in Women’s Studies and received UGC recognition as a Women’s Studies Research Centre in 1999. The School is dedicated to teaching, research, training, advocacy, and community outreach to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. It collaborates with academic institutions, government agencies, and civil society organizations to address contemporary gender issues. Equipped with a specialized library and experienced faculty, the School provides quality education, interdisciplinary research, and field-based learning while contributing to policy development and social transformation.

Thrust Areas of Research

Gender Equality, Social Justice, and Women’s Rights
Research on Women’s Issues: Health, Well-being, and Education
Women’s Work, Livelihood, and Economic Empowerment (SHGs and Entrepreneurship)
Violence Against Women, Laws, and Governance
Tribal, Rural, and Marginalised Women: Culture and Development
Transgender Rights, Justice, and Studies

Vision

To be a centre of excellence in Gender Studies that fosters competency-based, inclusive and transformative education, advancing gender justice, social equity, innovation, and sustainable development through interdisciplinary learning, research, technology integration, and community engagement.

Mission

To conduct policy and action research on gender studies through clustering as well as teaching and training programs.

To ensure equality and inclusiveness for the social structure.
To meet the challenges like consolidation, developing interdisciplinary approaches for evolving new strategies.

Distinctive Features

Recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a Women’s Studies Research Centre since 1999.

Offers M.A. and Ph.D. programmes in Women’s Studies with an interdisciplinary approach.
Focuses on teaching, research, training, advocacy, and extension activities for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Undertakes policy-oriented and action research on contemporary gender and development issues.
Collaborates with government departments, universities, NGOs, and research institutions at the state and national levels.
Maintains a specialized library with a rich collection of books and research resources on gender studies.
Organizes seminars, workshops, conferences, awareness programmes, and capacity-building initiatives.
Contributes to gender-sensitive policy formulation, social justice, and sustainable development through academic excellence and community engagement.

Strategic Goals

We aim to empower women as well as men to take control of their own lives and to sensitize students to social distinctions based on gender, race, ethnicity, social classes, creed, etc to create a harmonious atmosphere in the society.

Noted Directors (since inception to present) and their profiles

Prof. Asha Hans

1999 to 31-05-2005

Prof. Padmaja Mishra

2005 to 26-6-2006

Prof. Jayanti Jagdev

2006 to 31-10-2007

Prof. Bijan Bhasini Mohanty

2008 to 26-05-2009

Prof. Madhumita Dash

2007 to 05-05-2008

Prof. Sanghamitra Mohanty

2009 to 03-05-2011

Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty

03-05-2011 to 11-07-
2011

Prof. Navaneeta Rath

2011 to 2014
2018 to 2021

Prof. Sabita Acharya

2014 to 21-04-2018

Prof. Jayanti Dora

13-04-2021 to till date

Sl.No.	Programmes	Number of seats
1	P.G in Women’s Studies	24
2	Ph.D.

Sl.No.	Programme	Download
3	VALUE ADDED COURSE
4	MA in Womens Studies
5	Ph.D in Womens Studies

Facility	Number(s)
Classroom	02
Smart Classroom	01
Library	01
Desktop	02
Laptop	01
Camera	01
Refrigerator	01
Bookcase	11
Almirah	10
Air Conditioner	04
Fire Extinguisher	01
Disability Access Ramp	01
WiFi LAN	01
Printer	03
Drinking Water – Aquaguard	01
Washroom	01

Major Instrumental facilities

Projector -1
LAN, WIFI

Publications

Name of the teacher	Title of the book or chapters published / Title of the paper / Title of the proceedings	Year of publication	ISBN/ ISSN	Name of the publisher
Prof. Jayanti Dora (Eds)	Women and Development in India In Human Rights Perspective	2024	978-93-92816-50-5	Abhijit New Delhi
Prof. Jayanti Dora (Eds)	Women Empowerment and Economic Development in India: Issues and Challenges	2024	978-93-6389-211-8	Kunal, New Delhi
Prof. Jayanti Dora (Eds)	Women in Society Issues and challenges	2022	978-93-95651-09-7	Kunal, New Delhi

Published By Department

Year	National	International
2023	Women and Development in India , Human Rights Perspective View
2022	National Seminar on Women And Development in India : A Human Rights Perspectives View
2022	Women in Society Issues and Challenges View
2021	Gender Audit: Utkal University(2016-21) View
2020	Understanding Gender Responsive Budgeting(Edited Book) View
2020	Revisiting the Gender Budgets to balance for better View
2019	Report on Impact Assessment of CSR Interventions By ONGC View
2019	Report on The state level training workshops on gender budgeting in odisha View
2019	Report on gender sensitization program in odisha View
2018	Women in Indian Society on a Resurgent path: A new perspective (Edited Book) View
2018	Utkal journal of women’s studies, Volume-1, Number-1 View

Published By Research Scholars

Year	National	International
2019	Problem faced by working women View	Sexual harassment of women at workplace View
2018	Challenges of nursing profession in Odisha- Retrospection.	Domestic wokers : plight & Prejudice A Study in Santipally View
2018	Occupational health status of female nurses in India	Situating status of nurses in corporate hospitals: unfolding the myth
2020	Covid-19 and struggle for survival of Informal sector workers View

Details of publications are available under faculty profile

Research Projects

Sl. No.	Project title	Funding agency	Amount (Rs. in lakh)	Period	PI/Co-PI/ Coordinator
1	Gender Sensitization	W & C.D.,GOO	50,000 each program	2017-18	Prof. Sabita Acharya
2	Gender budgeting	W & C.D., GOI	14,67,257	2018-19	Prof. Navaneeta Rath
3	Gender Sensitization	W & C.D.,GOO	50,000 each program	2018-19	Prof. NavaneetaRath
4	The Social Consequences of natural Deserter: A study of the Victims of “Funny”	CWDS	1,00,000	2019-20	Prof. Navaneeta Rath
5	Impact Assessment of the CSR Interventions by ONGC	ONGC	1,00,000	2018-19	Prof. Navaneeta Rath

Workshop/Seminar Details

Academic activities for the year 2020-21

International Women’s Day Programme on 8th March 2021
Web-Discussion Series
Rebuilding Women’s Lives in Post COVID-19 Period
Organized by Oxfam India and School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University Dates of the Series: 14th August to 23 October
Defeat Diabetes Campaign, Date- 29th September 2021

Academic activities for the year 2021-22

International Radio Day, Date- 13th February 2022
Field Study to Kuspangi, Gayalabanka, Pakhapura, Bhagipura, villages, Cuttack
World Menstrual Hygienic Day- 2021, Webinar on Women’s Health and Hygiene: A Pathway for Development, Platform: Virtual Mode (Zoom) on dated 28th May 2021
Workshop on : SLEEP DISORDER AMONG YOUTHS Jointly Organised by:School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University and Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar EkamraKshetra(Date: 25th September,2022)
21″ Century Skills for the New-Normal in Collaboration with the Department of History
Swachha Bharat Avijan -The School of Women’s Studies organized a progamme on Swachha Bharat Abhijan” on 24-12-2021.
International Webinar on Gender and Social Justice on Date-20th February 2022
The School of Women’s Studies organized a webinar progamme on the Gender
Women Self Defense Training on Date-22th February 2022 -The School of Women’s Studies organized a training programme on “Women Defense Training” held on 22-02-2022 in collaboration with Rotary ,Bhubaneswar
Induction Programme, 2021
International Women’s Day celebration- 2022

Academic activities for the year 2022-23

International Women’s Day-2023
International Seminar on “Empowerment of Women in Revitalizing World:Past& Present”
School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University in collaboration with A siatic Socie for Social Science Research (ASSSR)organized an Intemational Seminar “Empowerment of Women in Revitalizing World: Past & Present” on 23rd-February 2023. The three days programme could able to gather many academician
School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University organized a two days National Seminar on “Women and Development in India: A Human Rights Perspectives”, Date 10th December 2022.
National Seminar on “Sacrifice of Women in Indian Freedom Struggle”On the eve of Azadi Ki Amtrit Mohotshav, School of Women’s Studies Department of History organized a national seminar on” Sacrifice of Women in Indian Freedom Struggle” on dated 13-8-22 at department of History.
School of Women’s Studies organized a National seminar on Financial Literacy on Women in collaboration with Jivan Rekha Parishad on 8th July 2022
Health Awareness Programme on Women’s Hygiene Date 28^th May 2022 School of Women’s Studies(SWS), Utkal University in collaboration with sum hospital, Bhubaneswar organized a one day awareness proramme on “Women’s Health and Hygiene on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygienic Day dated28 may2022
Success Stories INTERNAL COMPLAIN COMMITTEE(ICC). The School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University has been assigned as the nodal center for Internal Complain committee(ICC) of Utkal University. The Director of SWS is the Chairperson of ICC. The Committee has been frame das perorder of Utkal University in following the guide lines of UGC.
Competition for International Women’s Day Organized by SWS Date-3rd & 4th March 2023

Academic activities for the year 2023-24

An awareness session on Anti-ragging. This programme was organised by the Dept. of History in collaboration with School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University.
Students and faculties visited for field work data collection. They interacted with tribal women workers and labourers at Koraput district. Study Tour conducted by School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar from 28th January to 30th January 2025 to Koraput.
Celebration of August Kranti Diwas/Quit India Movement Day on 9th August by the Dept. of History in collaboration with School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University.
School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University, in collaboration with Breakthrough India, proudly launched the BOL BULAND campaign, giving youth a powerful platform to voice their dreams for a gender-equal world on 11.12.2024.
An International Workshop on “Gender Issues in Diaspora: An Overview of the Changing Status of Indian Women in the USA” organised by School of Women’s Studies in collaboration with the Dept. of History, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar on 03rd February 2025.
International Women’s Day 2025 was celebrated at Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar with a remarkable two-day event, including the International Women’s Day celebration and a National Workshop on “Accelerating Action to Drive Equality and Justice”, held on 7th and 8th March 2025.
One Day Workshop on “Envisioning Change: Reading Towards Equality in the Global Era” to commemorate 50 years of publication of the report “Towards Equality”, jointly organised by Vina Mazumder Memorial Fund (VMMF), Centre for Women’s Development Studies (CWDS), New Delhi, and School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar on 06.11.2024.

Academic activities for the year 2025-26

Awareness Program on Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan Date: 25th July 2025
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 Date: 30th July 2025
Awareness Program on Anti-Ragging & Cyber Crime Against Women Date: 18th August 2025
Induction Programme Date: 10th September 2025
Mental Health Counseling Session Date: 22.11.2025
Celebration of Human Rights Day – Women’s Rights at Work: A Dialogue on Industry, Justice and Equity Date: 06th December 2025
Financial Awareness and Central Govt. Welfare Schemes Date: 16.01.2026
Field Study Year: 2026
International Women’s Day – 2026 Date: 7th March 2026
International Women’s Day – 2026 with SWAR Date: 09th March 2026
Workshop on Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) Date: 13.04.2026

Achievements

05 students are pursuing Ph.D in Different Universities
07 Students secured internship in WCD department Govt. of India
01 Ph.D. student received the MRFT Scholarship
20 students Received prizes in different competitions (Skit competition, Quiz competition at Commissionerate of police, BBSR, Debate, Essay, Rangoli)

Sl. No	Name of the student/ Research Scholar	Programme studied	Nature of Achievement	Year
1.	Amisa Dalai	Women’s Studies	PhD persuing	2022-23
2.	Mohammed Imran View View	Women’s Studies	ICSSR Fellowship	2019-20
3.	Mrs. Gargee Pradhan View	Women’s Studies	UGC, SRF	2019-20
4.	Dr. SnigdharaniBehera View	Women’s Studies	PhD	2020-21
5.	SailajaNandini View	Women’s Studies	PhD	2018-19

Placement

Sl	Name of the student	Programme studied	Placement	Year of Placement
1	Dr. SnigdharaniBehera	Ph.D in Women’s Studies	APO Dhenkanal and Kendrapara (PR Dept) Faculty SWS	2012 2021
2	Amisa Dalai	PhD Continuing in Women’s Studies	Sakhi one stop centre, Cuttack	2023
3	Arpita Raj	M.A. in Women’s Studies	National Programme co-ordinator, YWCA of India	2026
4	Jharana Pradhan	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Agriculture dept.	2025
5	SandhyaraniBarik	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Sakha NGO, BBSR	2024
6	Sk. Nizzamuddin	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Relience General Insurance	2021
7	JnanaRanjanSahoo	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Axix Bank Ltd	2021
8	Kailash Chandra Das	M.A. in Women’s Studies	QUESS Corporate	2021
9	Md. Imran	Ph.D. in Women’s Studies	NABARD Consultancy Services	2020
10	Sasmita Mandal	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Oxfam India- Internship	2020
11	JyotiRanjanBarik	M.A. in Women’s Studies	SagarInfratech, Balasore	2020
12	Aditya Nayak	M.A. in Women’s Studies	SamayaConsutancy and Services	2020
13	Kalyani Rout ray	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Peacebell	2020
14	ChinmayeeBhuyan	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Odisha Police	2020
15	Rajashree Singh	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Satyam Developers	2020
16	HarekrushnaBehera	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Peacebell	2020
17	Anil Barun Jena	M.A. in Women’s Studies	NGO Kandhamal	2020
18	Janaki Pradhan	M.A. in Women’s Studies	Peacebell	2020

Students

Students Feedback Form: Click Here

MA (2016)

Sl.no.	Name of the Student	Name of the Mentor
1	Pramod Gupta	Dr. Aliva Mohanty
2	Bikash Kumar Sahoo
3	Gitanjali Sahoo
4	Laxmipriya Bishoi
5	Yasobanta Rana
6	Susmita Palai
7	Priyanka Priyadarshini
8	Arakhit Pradhan
9	Sunil Kumar Khuntia
10	Jyotirmayee Sahu
11	Dibyabharati Majhi
12	Rojalini Sahoo
13	Hena Kharun

MA(2017)

Sl.no.	Name of the Student	Name of the Mentor
1	Taslima Nashrin	Dr. Aliva Mohanty
2	Kirtishree J. Bhanja
3	Banaprava Das
4	Janaki Pradhan
5	Chinmayee Bhuyan
6	Nitesh Kumar Panda
7	Laxmi Barik
8	Sangita Kumari Sahoo
9	Sucharita Malik
10	Priyanka Swain
11	Mamina Nayak
12	Priyanka Pradhan
13	Priyadarshini Das
14	Harekrushna Behera
15	Bikash Patra
16	Lora Nayak
17	Anil Baran Jena
18	Prajnasmita Panda
19	Subhashree Nayak

MA(2018)

Sl.no.	Name of the Student	Name of the Mentor
1	Jasmine Meher	Dr. Aliva Mohanty & Dr. Nityananda Barik
2	Priyanka Das
3	Deeptimayee Sethi
4	Puja Chowhan
5	Puspalata Nayak
6	Tejaswini Samal
7	Subhashree Nayak
8	Kalyani Routray
9	Jyoti Ranjan Barik
10	Binati Kalundia
11	Rajshree Singh
12	Aditya Nayak
13	Sasmita Mandal
14	Priyadarshi Sahoo
15	Jyotirmayee Palai
16	Sujata Sahoo

MA(2019)

Sl.no.	Name of the Student	Name of the Mentor
1	Barsarani Senapati	Dr. Nityananda Barik & Subhashree Rout
2	Sunita Sethy
3	Bhabna Biswal
4	Saidutta B. Mallick
5	Kailash Chandra Das
6	Manoj Kumar Pradhan
7	Arpita Nayak
8	Sekhar Kumar Digal
9	Kartik Chandra Das
10	Sarj Kumar Mallick
11	Sasmita Das
12	Jnana Ranjan Sahoo
13	Sk. Nizamudin

MA(2020)

Sl.no.	Name of the Student	Name of the Mentor
1	Subhashree Priyadanshini	Ziniya Pattnaik & Dr. Snigdha Rani Behera
2	Rubin Sahu
3	Chinmayee Jena
4	Shantilata Badhei
5	Ashwasana Dalabehera
6	Purbasha Srichandan
7	Swetapadma Naik
8	Ruchita Rupanwita Sethi
9	Hemant Ku. Baliarsingh
10	Jharana Mahalik
11	Amisa Dalai
12	Bindushri Sahoo
13	Sushree Sangita Sahoo
14	Riniki Nayak
15	Bhagyashree Ojha
16	Rashmita Mallick
17	Srima sandharani Nayak
18	Ankita Barik
19	Bigyansa Nayak
20	Pragati Jena

MA(2021)

Sl. No.	Name of the student	Name of the Mentor
1.	Bipasharani Baliyarsingh	Dr. Nityananda Barik
2.	Himani Pradhan
3.	Lipsa Sahoo
4.	Pallavi Sarkar
5.	Praskash Ku. Pradhan
6.	Puspanjali Mohapatra	Dr. Snigdharani Behera.
7.	Subhadra Jena
8.	Jharana Pradhan
9.	Subrata Ku. Biswal
10.	Sandhyarani Barik
11.	Soumyashree Verma

MA 2022

SL No.	Mentee	Mentor
1.	Abhijeet Choudhury	Dr. Nityananda Barik
2.	Jyotshnarani Sethy
3.	Kiran Bala Das
4.	Lipirekha Behera
5.	Mamata Munda
6.	Rajalaxmi Khanda	Dr. Snigdharani Behera
7.	Sarmistha Swain
8.	Snehanjali Digal
9.	Subhra Bhanu Mohanty
10.	Suchitra Das

MA 2023

SL No.	Mentee	Mentor
1.	Digbijaya Prdhan	Dr. Snigdharani Behera
2.	Sunima Naik
3.	Payal Choudhury
4.	Ananya Jena
5.	Madhusudan Das
6.	Subrata Kumar Nayak
7.	Dipsikha Muduli	Dr. Nityananda Barik
8.	Subham Satrujit
9.	Anita Priyadarsini Mallick
10.	Somanath Mallik
11.	Kalandi Sethi
12.	Dibya Darshan Singh

Batch 24-26

Sl. No	Name of the student	Name of the Mentor
1.	SUNITA GOUDA	Prof. Jayanti Dora
2.	SEPHALI DAS
3.	ANANTA PUJARI
4.	PRIYATAMA NAYAK
5.	BISHNUPRIYA MOHAPATRA
6.	SUDHASMITA TOPPO
7.	SWATI SULAGNA
8.	JAGADISH KRISANI
9.	PRIYANKA MOHANTY
10.	PINKIRANI MALLICK
11.	TARINI PRASAD PANDA
12.	KISHAN DHADA	Dr. Snigdharani Behera
13.	LOPA SUBUDHI
14.	BANDANA JENA
15.	ARATI PRABHA BISOI
16.	SUJATA SAHU
17.	LIPAKSHEE BEHERA
18.	HITIK KUMAR PATEL
19.	SUGYANI PATTANAIK
20.	RAJANI GOCHHAYAT
21.	SURYA KANTA TARENIA
22.	BIPSALIN MOHANTY

Batch 25-27

Sl. No	Name of the Students	Name of the Mentor
1	ANJALI BEHERA	Prof. Jayanti Dora
2	LAXMIPRIYA MOHANTY
3	PRAGYA PARAMITA PANDA
4	PRITISMITA JENA
5	PRIYADARSHINI MAHAPATRA
6	PRIYADARSHINI SAMAL	Dr. Mousumi Sethy
7	SARADA PRASAD ROUT
8	SHUVAKANTA PATRA
9	SRADHA SUMAN KHUNTIA
10	SUBHALAXMI KAR
11	SUBHALAXMI PRIYADARSHANI
12	SUBHASHREE PRIYADARSHINI SAHOO	Dr. Snigdharani Behera
13	SUSHREE ANISHARANI SAHOO
14	SWAGATIKA BARIK
15	D.Swati Venketa Suvalaxmi
16	Sila Mishra
17	Motilal Sahoo

Alumni

Sl. No	Distinguished alumni of the department	Present status of the Alumni
1	Dr. Amrita Patel	State Programme Co-ordinator, State Resource Centre for Women, Govt. of Odisha
2	Subhabani Biswas	Programme Manager, Institutional Strengthening of Gram Panchayat, Govt. of West Bengal
3	Ipsita Pattnaik	Lecturer, Udayanath Autonomous College for Science & Technology
4	Drishanka Dyutisikha	Lecturer, Udayanath Autonomous College for Science & Technology
5	Subhashree Samal	Programme Coordinator, CARD, Bhubaneswar
6	Pusparaj Mohanty	UN Women (INGO), Somalia, South Africa
7	Arundhati Pradhan	Addl. Tahasildar, Biridi, Cuttack
8	Dr. Meera Swain	Lecturer in Anthropology, Central University, Koraput
9	Kunja Bihari Behera	P.O., Syndicate Bank
10	Bidhubusan Pati	P.O., Punjab National Bank
11	Swaha Das	District Co-ordinator, AAINA
12	Rutukrishna Swain	Teacher, Kendriya Vidyalaya-I, BBSR
13	Asish Ku. Sahoo	Junior Research Fellow, Central Univ. Hydrabad
14	Sunita Shivaranjani	Odisha Administrative Office, Govt. of Odisha
15	Reena Mohanty	Program Co-ordinator, SMRC, BBSR
16	Tanmayee Sahoo	Programme Co-ordinator, TASK FORCE, Odisha
17	Aditi Panda	Freelance social worker
18	Manoranjan Kar	Programme Co-Ordinator, GEOINFOTECH, Odisha
19	Bidhubushan Pati	P.O. Punjab National Bank
20	Pradeep Patra	Customer Care Officer, Axis Bank
21	Rosalin Sahoo	Customer Care Officer, HDFC Bank
22	Lopamudra Patra	Research Assistant, JNU, Delhi
23	Sarmista Kabi	Research Assistant, Pondichery University
24	Pragyna Mohanty	Lecturer, CWS, Ravenshaw University
25	Dr. Snigdharani Behera	Research Associate Continuing Faculty in School of Women Studies, Utkal University
26	Sk. Nizamuddin	Area Manager, Reliance General Insurance
27	Jnanaranjan Sahoo	Assistant Manager, Axis Bank Ltd.
28	Kailash Chandra Das	Branch Relationship Executive, QUESS Corp Limited
29	Sumitra Dhal Samanta	Senior Consultant, Community Process, HBYC, Child Health Division, NHM, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi
30	Sarita Patel	Director, NSS, Government of India
31	Sunita Pradhan	Programmer, SCB Medical College & Hospital