News
Chandigarh girl becomes first South Asian to become immigration commissioner in US
Kudrat Dutta Chaudhary, a young lawyer who hails from Chandigarh, has been appointed the Commissioner of Immigrants Rights at San Francisco. She is the first South Asian to get this position.Kudrat will deal with asylum seekers seeking asylum on the basis of gender-based violence or persecution they have suffered in their home countries.As a Commissioner, her job would be to advice the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors on immigrant issues in the city and county of SF.
The process of becoming a Commissioners requires an application, shortlisting of candidates and then the nominated candidates are given an opportunity to present their candidature to the Rules Committee. The Rules committee then makes final candidature recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and they then vote on it.
Chaudhary earned a unanimous vote from the Board of Supervisors for her position.After graduating from the Army Institute of Law, Kudrat Dutta Chaudhary studied at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and graduated with an LL.M in International Laws.
While in graduate school, Chaudhary focussed on Gender Analysis in International law and went on to work as a Gender Rights Specialist at the Law Office of Robert B. Jobe in August 2019.
In San Francisco, she has been very active in advocacy. She heads the women’s march San Francisco and is the first South Asian Commissioner on the Immigrant Rights Commission for the city and county of San Francisco.
The Indian Express spoke to Kudrat about her early years in Chandigarh and her motivation for pursuing law.
The Chandigarh connect
I did my primary schooling at Sacred Heart and high school from Vivek. Subsequently, I joined the law programme at the Army Institute of Law. Following my graduation in law, I pursued LL.M from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.
What made you take up Law?
I am a very justice oriented person and believe that law is a strong agent to bring societal change. Hence, it wasn’t a tough choice.
What do you like the most about Chandigarh?
As an expat, I believe I have the privilege of only remembering and rejoicing in the best things about Chandigarh and hence I love how green it is, its culture, how small it is (which is also why I love San Francisco) and all the memories that I built in the city.
What do you dislike about Chandigarh?
If I have to choose one thing I dislike, I’d probably say how small Chandigarh is. That is because knowing everyone can sometimes lead to less opportunities for privacy and making choices that one wants to make personally as opposed to what is expected.
Secret of your success
There is no secret per se. I continue to work towards becoming the best version of myself with the understanding that my life’s purpose is to advocate for those who can’t do it for themselves. Lots of water, good sleep and walks with my dog. (Indian Express)
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
