GUWAHATI, March 9 - As in the rest of the world, the International Women�s Day was celebrated throughout the State with fervour and enthusiasm on Wednesday. It may be mentioned here that International Women�s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
Our Correspondents add:
North Lakhimpur: The International Women�s Day was celebrated in North Lakhimpur along with the rest of the world on Wednesday with calls for economic empowerment of women and to put an end to girl child trafficking and bridal trafficking.
A massive rally was organised on the occasion by All Adivasi Women�s Association of Assam (AAWAA), Lakhimpur district unit at the playground of Koilamari Tea Estate in North Lakhimpur on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Lalita Topno, President, AAWAA, Lakhimpur district unit. The secretary of Lakhimpur District Legal Service Authority, Narayan Kuri attended the rally as the appointed speaker.
In his address, Kuri elaborated on the legal provisions for the protection of girl child from human trafficking. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur, Dr Rashmi Sarma attended the rally as the chief guest.
In her address, Dr Sarma spoke about breaking the social stereotypes on women and called everyone to get empowered. The North Lakhimpur correspondent of The Assam Tribune, Farhana Ahmed attended the women�s day rally as an invited guest.
In her address, Ahmed spoke about the rampant bridal trafficking and human trafficking of Adivasi women and girl child from the inter-State border areas of Lakhimpur district. She asked the gathering to become more vigilant and aware about that illicit trade and also asked for economic empowerment of women. The State president of AAWAA Nelani Tiru also attended the function as a guest of honour. She felicitated women workers from various fields and sectors in the meeting. Various cultural programmes were also organised on the occasion.
Mangaldai: In connection with the celebration of the International Women�s Day on Wednesday, a free eye screening camp was organised by the Assam Lekhika Santha, Mangaldai branch in association with the Darrang District Health Society at Boina-Ojapara village under Mangaldai Revenue Circle in Darrang district. A total of 76 women were examined out of which 21 were reportedly found with cataract of the eye. According to the district Health department, necessary surgery will be carried out free of cost for these patients next month.
JAGIROAD: The Department of Botany, Dimoria College, Khetri celebrated the International Women�s Day on Wednesday at the college premises in presence of a large gathering.
While inaugurating the day, the Dispur MLA Atul Bora in his speech, highlighted the role of women in development of society including the significance of the day. The programme started with Sarawasati Vandana followed by lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the chief guest along with the college Principal in-charge Pranjal Das and other guests. The welcome address and the objectives of International Women�s Day was delivered by Dr SA Choudhury, HoD, Department of Botany, Dimoria College. AK Buzarbaruah, Department of Physics of the college conducted the function.
The attraction of the day was a satriya dance performance by known dancer, Sitarani Hazarika and Dr Saraju Hazarika, faculty member of the department of Botany of the college.
The programme ended with the vote of thanks from the Head of the Department of Botany, Dimoria College.
DHUBRI: On the occasion of International Women�s Day, the Deputy Commissioner of Dhubri urged the citizens to come together to eradicate the curse of gender inequality in the district.
In a programme organised by the Dhubri District Mahila Samity at Bahadurtari area to celebrate the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner Dhiraj Chaudhary in presence of SP Longneet Terang, former principal of BN College, DSP Sukanya Das and members of various organisations and senior citizens said, �The day when both the genders start doing things together the society will develop. And for a society like that of Dhubri, such coordination has become an urgent need.� He also said, �If we really want a positive change in the society, we must change it from our home. And that change is giving equal rights to the female members of the society.�
Speaking on the occasion, Terang said, �Crime against women can be curbed only when we respect women, give them equal rights and encourage them to be self sufficient.� The occasion was observed in various parts of the district by various organisations and committees.
KOKRAJHAR: Along with rest of the country, the International Women�s Day was also celebrated here at Kokrajhar by various organisations in a befitting manner.
NERSWN, an NGO, celebrated the day in a colourful manner at Dwjwn Dera near BB Engineering College, Chandrapara, Kokrajhar. A discussion on �Sports, Women and Commerce� was held. Two women of Kokrajhar were given �Best Women Vendor Award� by NERSWN on the occasion.
Raju Kr Narzary, executive director of NERSWN; Pratibha Brahma, UPP(L) vice-president; Bibari Basumatary, renowned badminton player, among others, attended the programme. Kokrajhar District Legal Services Authority in association with Women�s Cell of Bodoland University also organised an awareness programme on the occasion of International Women�s Day at Bodoland University.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Hemanta Kumar Baruah, attended the programme as chief guest. In the programme, various aspects regarding women empowerment and related issues were discussed.
Women�s wing of UPP(L) also celebrated the day. As part of the celebration, members of women�s wing of UPP(L) led by Pratibha Brahma, vice-president of UPP(L), spent time with children from Nishima Orphanage Home Society located in Nishima under Chirang district. They also gifted study kits like school bags, pens etc., and sweets to school-going inmates of the Orphanage Home Society.
Silchar: International Women�s Day was celebrated by various educational institutions and associations here also.
The occasion was celebrated with enthusiasm at Women�s College Silchar. In a function organised at the college library, Samar Kanti Roy Choudhury, president of the college governing body, Dr Manoj Kumar Paul, principal of the college; and Dr Banani Das, Vice-Principal of the college, accorded warm felicitation to veteran women reformer from Barak Valley Jyotsna Rani Chakraborty with a shawl and citation.
It may be mentioned that Chakraborty is the first recognised member of National Youth project and president of its Barak Valley unit.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Paul said, �Education is the light which can shed the darkness of social exclusion and injustice meted out to women. It is a day to rekindle hope to the oppressed section of women. Women must be encouraged towards higher studies.�
Sharing her views, Jyotsna Chakraborty said, �It is the duty of the society to create environment for the girls to become self dependent.�
In his address, Samar Kanti Roy Choudhury, president of college governing body, said that due to continuous ignorance, women consider themselves socially secluded. �Efforts must be made to change the mindset of women and they must have equal space in making important policy decisions both in the professional and personal spheres of life.
The annual journal of Department of Mass Communication �The Women�s Post� was also released on the occasion.
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Sivasagar: International Women�s Day was celebrated in various places of the district on Wednesday. Addressing a meeting held in Demow College, Dr Aditee Bezbaruah, Professor of Jorhat Engineering College, said that there is justification in celebrating the day internationally as the major section of women are still in the dark about their rights and privileges. She said that 170 years ago, Elizabeth, accompanying her father King Henry to America was not given a chair in a public meeting just because she was a woman. She pledged to do something to protect the rights of women and she lent her support to the Bill of Rights that became an Act, Dr Bezbaruah added. The meeting was presided over by Dr Devakanta Phukan, Principal of Demow College and Professor Kusum Handique spoke on the objectives.
The women SHGs under Nagar Mahal GP, Sivasgar, celebrated the day with a daylong programme in Tarun Sangha, Durbar Field. The meeting held on the occasion was presided over by Professor (retd) Hachna Ara Begum.
Addressing a gathering of SHG women members, Manika Saikia, rights activist, said that women should now raise questions about the injustice and discriminations in society and at home. There are millions of �Bhodori� languishing in every society for whom a lot more have to be done, she said.
Sarodee Gogoi, DIPRO, Sivasagar, said that the women all over the world have been fighting for their rights and equality since 1909 when Russian women first raised the demand and she added that media has an important role to play in women�s equality status.
Manoj Borthakur in his speech said that women are blessed with a distinct empathy and inner urge to help the poor. Advocate Dipika Neog said that our women can emulate the example set by Sumitra Kumari, president of Charaideo Gram Panchayat, who has been selected for this year�s Succha Sakti -2017 National Award to be given away by the Prime Minister.
Farid Islma Hazarika, president of AAMSU Sivasagar unit, said that women must ask for their due share in the society. Swarna Boruah Borbora, principal of TRGHs, said, �We need to be tolerant as well as disciplined while asserting ourselves.� It was also addressed by Bobita Bharali, Hironmoy Gogoi and Junu Kachari, among others. The cultural procession brought out in the morning was flagged off by Sivasagar Superintendent of Police Subudh Sonowal.
