Excelsior Correspondent
![JU VC Prof M P S Ishar delivering inaugural address in NWISA Conference at JU on Friday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/page5-322.jpg)
JAMMU, Nov 22: XVII North West Indian Sociological Association Conference on the theme ‘Changing Institutions of Family and Marriage in North-West India’ began today at Jammu University.
The two-day conference is being organized by NWISA in association with the Department of Sociology in JU.
In his inaugural address Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice- Chancellor, JU, said that the institution of marriage was changing as half of the suppressed women population is wakening to contribute to the progress of society.
In her keynote address, Prof Patricia Uberoi, Honorary Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi, mapped out a comparative prospective of family system in America, China and India. She emphasized the need for the deeper understanding of family system in South Asia by deploying comparative methodology.
In his introductory remark, Prof Bupinder Pal Singh, president of NWISA, said that family system was in a crisis due to the effect of State and the Media leading to negative role and disturbances to the society.
Earlier in her welcome address Prof Abha Chauhan, HoD Sociology, elaborated in detail the relevance of the topic of the conference.
The vote of thanks was presented by Dr Suresh Babu.
On day first, one symposium and four parallel technical sessions were held on the themes such as Honour killing, Understanding marriage as an institution; Emerging trends and changing family and Gender roles.
The proceedings of the event were conducted by Dr Vishav Raksha, Associate Professor.
Among others Prof Kulwant Kour, Dean Research Studies, Prof Deepshikha Kotwal, Prof Poonam Dhawan, Director, DLLL, Prof V D Singh, Director DDE, Prof Dhain S Bhau, Director Sports & Physical Education, Prof Pankaj Srivastav, DSW, Prof Rekha Chaudhary, Prof Jigar Mohd, Dean Social Sciences and Jaikumar Sharma, Spl Secy to Vice-Chancellor were also present on the occasion.