Hyderabad, September 16, 2025:
The Department of Political Science, Government Degree College for Women, Hussaini Alam, in collaboration with the Socio-Reforms Society (SRS), organized a State Level Colloquium on “Community Engagement: Strategies for Abolishing Dowry and Extravagant Weddings” on Tuesday. The event, held in the college’s New Seminar Hall, brought together scholars, reformists, and students for a day of thought-provoking discussions.

The colloquium was chaired by Prof. Ch. Appiya Chinnamma, Principal of the college. Dr. Aleem Khan Falki, President of SRS, attended as Chief Guest, while Prof. Shahida Murtaza, Former Dean, MANUU, and Prof. M.A. Sami Siddiqui, Director, CPDUMT, MANUU, joined as Distinguished Guest and Guest of Honour respectively. Speakers stressed the urgency of eradicating dowry and promoting simple, dignified weddings.

A highlight of the programme was an Elocution Competition where 16 undergraduate girls presented powerful speeches against dowry. Cash prizes of ₹3000, ₹2000, and ₹1000 were awarded to the top three winners, along with three consolation prizes of ₹500 each. The spirited performances reflected the rising awareness among youth on the issue.

The event also saw the signing of an MoU between the college and SRS to further collaborative efforts in social reform. The day concluded with the Valedictory Ceremony and Prize Distribution, during which certificates were given to students who completed the Certificate Course on “Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)”.

The colloquium, coordinated by Dr. Farhana Sultana and convened by Dr. Mohammed Ghouse, left a strong message of community-driven change, reaffirming the collective resolve to abolish dowry and curb wasteful wedding practices.