Centre for Women Studies and Development, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla was established in the year 2001 under U.G.C. IXth plan guidelines (Phase-I). Since then the Centre has been instrumental in forwarding the cause of women/gender related issues. The main objective of Centre is to educate the community about gender issues and also to provide a safe psychological and physical space for all women and men interested in gender issues. With the purpose to create awareness about women and gender related issues and to sensitize community about the problems faced by women, the Centre has been organizing workshops and seminars on a regular basis.The Centre has also been organizing various campaigns on gender related issues in collaboration with government organizations (eg. Police Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, Women Commission etc.)and various N.G.O.s.

It gives me immense pleasure to note that the Centre has been instrumental in empowering rural women by helping them become self-reliant by imparting them pine needle weaving handicraft training. I am sure that with their continuous efforts in the right direction, the Centre will scale new heights