The Ahalia School of Management (ASM), Palakkad, organized a special session in connection with International Women’s Day on 06 March 2026 at 2.00 PM in the ASM Seminar Hall. The programme was conducted in association with the Women Cell of the institution. The theme of the session was “Public Policy towards Diversity and Inclusion.”  The session featured Vineeta Hariharan, Policy Strategist, as the Resource Person.

The Presidential Address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) B. Vijayachandran Pillai, Principal & Director, ASM. In his address, he stressed the need to create awareness among management students about the importance of inclusive public policies and the role of diversity in social and economic development.

The programme commenced with a brief welcome address by the faculty coordinator of the Women Cell, Mrs. Jyothis Rachel Mathews. The speaker was formally introduced by Dr. M. Manju, Women Cell Member, to the audience highlighting her academic background and professional contributions in the field of public policy and governance.

During her presentation, Ms. Vineeta Hariharan explained the concept of diversity and inclusion in the context of governance and policy making. She emphasized that public policies should address the needs of all sections of society, especially women, marginalized communities and economically weaker groups. She discussed how inclusive policies contribute to equitable development, social justice and sustainable growth. The resource person also spoke about the importance of gender equality in policy formulation. She highlighted the challenges faced by women in education, employment, leadership and access to opportunities. She explained that government policies should focus on empowering women through education, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship support and equal participation in decision-making processes. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the student coordinator Ms. Malavika, II MBA HCM of the Women Cell.