Theme: Knowledge is power

There is nothing as precious as knowledge. No amount of pain and expense can be deemed too high for its acquirement. It raises the esteem and honour of people and makes them influential in society. This phenomenon is reflected in war where triumph is attributed to conduct more than force. Knowledge completes a human if they lack in physical strength; it enhances their agility, abilities and power. Knowledge is a great equalizer and serves for a lifetime.

As Edward Gibbon once said, “Every person has two educations, one which he receives from others, and one, more important, which he gives to himself.” The latter is by far the most valuable since we must work it out and conquer it for ourselves. What we are taught seldom nourishes the mind like what we teach ourselves. It is this that constitutes as real and best nourishment for the soul.

Government Doon Medical College
Govt Doon Medical College,Vishwakarma Colony,dehrakhas, Patel Nagar,near Indresh Hospital
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001
India

Dr Shiv Kumar

Associate professor, community medicine, government Doon Medical College

Associate professor in community medicine department, Government Doon Medical College.Sir is highly skilled in Public Health Research and Preventive Care with a Doctor of Medicine - MD focused in Preventive Healthcare from VNSG University, Surat. He Has numerous publications in international and national journals and Editorial board member/Reviewer of various National Journals . He has guided many PG/MPH and UG students in their Research Projects. Currently Pursuing PhD in Community Medicine under HNBUMEU, he has keen interest in clinical/scientific research, policy work and teaching.

Minakshi Khati

Enterpreneur

Minakshi Khati, known as “Aipan Girl of Uttarakhand” who is prominent by her enthralling “Aipan Art". Minakshi runs a project by the name of “Minakriti - The Aipan Project”, where she provides Traditional Knowledge of Uttarakhand's “Aipan Art". Empowering & Inspiring Rural and Local women artists by recognition of this art form.Despite all the hurdles which came her way, she didn’t stop and continued to achieve milestones and participated in many Art Carnivals, Business development Programmes, Tradition Knowledge Exhibitions, Social Awarenes Programmes ( like : Beti Bachao-Beti Pahado Abhiyan, National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, Save Bugyal Campaign, and Women Health Hygiene) and Traditional art workshops. Also invited by Uttarakhand Tourism in Delhi on 'Paryatan Parva'. Minakshi has also been honoured by the Government Matrashakti Samaan, Maa Nanda Shakti Samman, Kalyani Samman, Proud Pahadi samman, Uttrakhand Shakti Samman, DJJS Young Women Entrepreneur Award 2021.

Nini Mehrotra

Sociologist

Nini believes that pursuing an educational endeavour can be the most empowering process for girls in her country, in her culture. People she has met and her experience in the field have served as deep-rooted motivation for her. A sociologist by training, she has been in the development sector for the last 17 years and is currently working as Associate Director, Girls Education Program in Room to Read India. The discipline has contributed in shaping her world view and approach to social processes. Her journey began with working on issues of governance, where she worked very closely with citizens groups, women collectives as leaders from these groups took active roles as empowered citizen. Her work on gender and education brings together deep field work, content creation, curriculum development, training leaders, trainers and development of gender transformative program designs.

Poornima Garg

Leader, Sociologist, Coach

Poornima is the Deputy Country Director at Room to Read India, an international non-profit transforming the lives of millions of children through education, creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. As a leader, she brings in more than two decades of diverse leadership experience in both non-profit and for-profit sectors, primarily into education and business management. Under her leadership, Room to Read India embarked on several key initiatives, including articulating the policy and acts drawn for employee welfare and child protection, and being awarded a Great Place to Work for eight consecutive years. Poornima serves on the Internal Complaints Committee under sexual harassment of women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal Act) for multiple organisations. She was awarded with the title of ‘The Phenomenal She’ in 2019 by Indian National Bar Association for her contribution in advocating to establish ICC within organisations under the POSH act.

Pushplata Rawat

Social entrepreneur

A student of forest management, Pushplata has followed the eco-systems approach towards bringing the desired social change in a career spread over two decades. The experience of working at micro, meso as well as macro level has shaped her understanding of various issues confronting society. Currently, she is leading Room to Read India’s state operations in Uttarakhand. She is primarily responsible for the effective implementation of RtR programs in the state; Coordinating and collaboration within State teams and across CO program teams; Coaching and creating a positive work environment among team members. In her career span, she has worked on diversified portfolio of programs including contributing four years as National United Nations Volunteer overseeing district operations of UNDP-GOI Project on Disaster Risk Management.

Rahul Bhatnagar

Enterpreneur, Mentor, Author

He mentors businesses to grow their presence & run their work on autopilot mode. His training programs & courses have been attended by more than 7,00,000 people. His programs & events Communication Mastery, Sales MasterClass, Rise and Shine, Public Speaking Championship, Business Growth & Enrichment Begins Within have more than 30,000 enrollments. He is also the author of the book "Enrichment Begins Within", a National Best Seller that has already been read by 30,000+ people. He has been seen on prominent platforms like Red FM 93.5, Forbes India, Your Story, AIESEC Youth Speak Forum & others. He is the only person to have delivered 50 consecutive speeches on 50 days at ToastMasters International. He has been featured 8 times on the Josh Talks platform He has delivered 3 TEDx Talks He has more than 10,000 unique pieces of content across Social Media