GUWAHATI, March 8 � On the occasion of International Women�s Day, the Assam State Commission for Women (ASCW) launched its website and affirmed its commitment to work for the empowerment of all sections of women.
ASCW chairperson Mridula Saharia said that women in the State were making their presence felt in every field, but they were few in number. �Majority of women still face discrimination and we have many responsibilities,� said Saharia stressing the need for including every woman in rural Assam in the empowerment process.
Saharia also said that to ensure that women enjoyed their rights as per the legal provisions it was necessary to focus on sensitization of all stakeholders including police and the media.
�Women should be an example to the society and contribute for its betterment,� said Saharia.
It needs to be mentioned here that like in the previous years, meetings, seminars and awareness programmes across the capital city were the highlights of International Women�s Day observed with the same fervour, but with no tangible result to bring the much awaited change. Despite all the legal provisions women continue to face discrimination and are subjected to abuse, their fate as yet dependent on the verdict of a parochial society � this was the sentiment of the day.
�Discussing problems of women on just a particular day will not change things in favour of women,� said Renu Baruah, a teacher pointing to the numerous legal provisions to safeguard the rights of women, but which have failed to provide succour to the women in need.
The issues affecting women were discussed at a programme organised by Asom Pratisthan Aru Griha Sramik Union at the Guwahati Press Club here. The KC Das Commerce College too celebrated International Women�s Day on its premises. The UNESCO Association, Guwahati observed the day by holding a meeting at Silpukhuri.
Right from exploitation at home to workplace, increasing violence against women and lack of awareness about the legal provisions for securing the rights of women were discussed at length at the meetings.
