Five College residency hosts Indian women’s health care champion

Next week, N.B. Sarojini will begin a two-week engagement as the Five College Public Policy Initiative’s spring social justice practitioner-in-residence. During her stay from April 8-19, Sarojini will participate in several public events throughout the Five College community.

Sarojini is the founder and director of the Sama Resource Group for Women and Health, a New Delhi-based nonprofit that conducts action research and promotes appropriate health policies around issues ranging from reproductive health to malaria treatment during pregnancy. She has been advocating for women’s rights and their health care for two decades. As Sama’s director, she has coordinated national research studies concerning the potential impacts on women of reproductive and medical technologies, the implications of the two-child norm for marginalized communities, and alternative systems of medicine. Sarojini also serves on the steering committee for India’s Health Care Planning Commission, is a joint convener of India’s chapter of the People’s Health Movement, and is an organizing committee member of India’s National Bioethics Conference.

Her residency this spring marks the third of the Social Justice Practitioner-in-Residence Program. This collaborative Five College project is housed administratively at the Center for Public Policy and Administration. It was created to offer Five College students and faculty opportunities to engage with and learn from individuals who have hands-on policymaking experience. By offering occasions to interact with those who have chosen lives of service, the residency program helps students imagine careers of their own that might advance the common good.

In addition to the public events listed below, Sarojini will speak at several classes and participate in some informal workshops during her residency. For a full list of Sarojini’s events that are open to the public, click here.

Saturday, April 13 at 1:15 p.m.
“International Roundtable: Feminism and Reproductive Rights”Franklin Patterson Hall 108, Hampshire College

Saturday, April 13 at 5:15 p.m.
“New Horizons in Reproductive Politics” (panel discussion)
Franklin Patterson Hall 106, Hampshire College

Sunday, April 14 at 11 a.m.
“Plenary Address at Civil Liberties and Public Policy Conference: From Abortion Rights to Social Justice”
Franklin Patterson Hall, Hampshire College

Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m.
“Can We See the Baby Bump Please? Experiences of Surrogacy in Mumbai, India” (film and discussion)
West Lecture Hall, Hampshire College

The Five College Public Policy Initiative aims to enhance collaboration among Five College faculty and students who are interested in curricula, research and outreach related to public policy. The residency program was made possible by a grant from Five Colleges, Inc.