Women’s Training College principal Jessie George Modi and (right) BJP MLC Kiran Ghai inaugurate the seminar at Darbhanga House in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Ashutosh Jha, a postgraduate diploma student of Patna University women’s studies department, grabbed a golden opportunity on Wednesday to present the demand of his fellow students for immediate jobs in front of BJP MLC Kiran Ghai.

Jha requested Ghai, who had come to the department to take part in an International Women’s Day programme, to arrange for placements for the students immediately after they get their postgraduate diplomas. The senior BJP leader listened to the request with a smile but did not respond.

“Madam, we are overwhelmed that you accepted our invitation and came to this programme. As I was sitting in the last row, I could hear the discussions of the other students. All of them said that they consider you a role model. But if you really want to live forever in our hearts, please do something about getting us jobs. If you do something about it, you will earn a special place in our hearts,” he said.

While his fellow students applauded to express their support for Jha, Ghai just smiled. She did not make any promise or even respond to the request of the students.

Other students, though, claimed that Jha had hit the nail on the head.

One of them, Sunil Kumar, told The Telegraph: “We shall finish our course in a few months. But we have not heard anything about placement opportunities. Women’s studies students are eligible to work in various government departments like social welfare, women’s development and rural development.”

He added: “I learnt from my seniors that many of them did not get jobs after graduating. Some of them are working in NGOs (non-government organisations).”

Ghai, before facing such requests from the students, spoke at length on women’s empowerment. “These days, people talk about women’s empowerment. They refer to women working in different sectors. But can’t they see that a large number of women are still unemployed?” she said.

The BJP leader also said: “Cases of sexual abuse, female foeticide and gender discrimination are rampant. So we can’t say that women have got their due. Women still have a long way to go.”

Other speakers at the event were former head of Patna University (PU) English department Shaileshwar Sati Prasad, Women’s Training College principal Jessie George Modi and former head of PU economics department Nawal Kishore Choudhary.

They spoke about the significance of International Women’s Day. Modi said: “I don’t understand the need to celebrate this day. I was born in a family of six girls. My father motivated all of us to take independent decisions. However, I can’t deny that there are still many women who have not been empowered. So for them, this is a celebration.”