The Goa unit of the All India Federation of Women Lawyers was inaugurated here today in the presence of guest of honour, Goa’s first practicing woman lawyer, Ms Libia Lobo Sardessai and the president of the All India Federation of Women Lawyers, Ms Sheela Anish.
Ms Sardessai congratulated the Goa unit and urged the lady lawyers to serve the community and to bring about social change through their work. Ms Sardessai, who is also a freedom fighter, recollected the days of the freedom struggle of India when she had the opportunity to mix with and listen to senior Indian political leaders, most of whom were lawyers.
She said their priority was not their own remuneration but to serve the nation. She said she was inspired by these leaders and joined the Law College as a result.
Ms Sardesai said these same leaders could be the role models for the lawyers of today.
The president of the All India Federation of Women Lawyers, Ms Sheela Anish, in her speech, said the Federation is affiliated to the International Federation of Women Lawyers She said what benefit they take out of the organisation is entirely up to them.
Ms Anish also urged the lawyers to attend the forthcoming conference of All Asia Women Lawyers scheduled to be held in Bangalore, to meet other women lawyers and to treat it as a learning experience.
The president of the Goa unit of the All India Federation of Women Lawyers, Ms Shanti Maria Fonseca said that in the past four and half decades, since the liberation of Goa, women had joined the legal forum progressively. “The number of girls joining the law colleges now outnumber boys and the number of women in the legal profession has turned from a trickle to a flood. The earlier generation of women lawyers faced obstacles that the present generation may not appreciate,’’ she added.
The secretary of the Goa unit, Ms Subhalaxmi Raikar read the activity report of the unit. She also read out the Chief Minister Mr Digambar Kamat’s message.
NavhindTimes, Goa Daily
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