GUWAHATI, March 8 - Along with the rest of the State, International Women�s Day was celebrated in Guwahati city as well.
In appreciation of the role of women in society, various felicitation programmes were organised by different organisations including Yuva Sangbadik Mancha, which had come into being on this day last year.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Yuva Sangbadik Mancha function, advocate Bijon Mahajan appreciated the role of women in moulding society and said that it is only by empowering women that a society can become empowered to the fullest.
While referring to the exemplary feats achieved by Indian women of the likes of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (diplomat and politician), Mahajan praised the woman journalists for their contributions towards society.
Mahajan also voiced concern about gender-based violence against women and even cited the case of neighbouring Meghalaya, which despite having a matriarchal society, is witnessing a rise in cases of crime against women.
Social worker Kailash Sarma also dwelt at length on the importance of women in society since time memorial and urged the people not to remain mute spectators when it comes to crime against women.
�No faith in this world favours suppression of women. For our society to grow, we need to keep women in high esteem which is evident in our mythology as well,� he opined.
The Mancha felicitated fifteen Guwahati-based lady journalists, both from the print and electronic media. Those felicitated included Karishma Kaushik Phukan (Amar Asom), Sonam Choudhury (Agradoot), Pallavi Bora (Prag News), Bhushita Phukan (Prag News), Alful Gogoi (Assam Talks), Neepa Kakoty (Amar Asom), Maina Goswami (Dainik Batori Kakot), Mamoni Chutia (Dainik Batori Kakot), Purabi Deka (The Sentinel), Dhanashree Baishya (News Time), Abhilasha Bora ( News Live), Kangkon Manisha (DY 365), Kingkini Kusum Kashyap Sarma (DY 365), Doly Haloi (Eastern Chronicle) and Beauty Barman (Asomiya Pratidin).
International Women�s Day was also celebrated jointly by five women�s organisation, including North East Network, Asom Mahila Sangha, AIDWA, YWCA and Sadou Asom Pragatisheel Nari Sanstha.
The five organisations also jointly submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) highlighting issues relating to safety of women in public places, acid attack, witch-hunting, need for women�s helpline, 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies and universalisation of gender budgets in the government departments.
A public meeting was also organised on the bank of the Dighalipukhuri where women, youth and women�s groups came together to celebrate the day and took the pledge to promote women�s rights and ensure State accountability to bring an end to violence against the fairer sex.
Fransalian Agency for Social Care and Education in India (FAsCE India) celebrated International Women�s Day in keeping with the theme of 2017, �Be Bold for Change�.
Around 300 women from Amchang (Jorabat), Patharquary, Geetamandir, Ekrabari, Bonda and Hatisila came together at SFS School, Satgaon-Narengi to participate in the celebration of the social, economical, cultural and political achievements of women.
The State Bank of India (NE Circle) too celebrated the day, as part of which ten eminent women of Assam were felicitated. Those felicitated were Padmashree award winning writer Eli Ahmed; Varnali Deka, CEO, GMDA; Amanjeet Kaur, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Guwahati Metro; Subashini Sankaran, Superintendent of Police, Chief Minister Security; Dr Jahanara Begum, writer and actress; Rupa Hazarika, social activist; Dr Mrinmoyee Baruah of Deepsikha Cancer Care Foundation; Trishna Saikia, social activist; Tanushree Hazarika, entrepreneur and Sanjukta Dutta, entrepreneur.
PVSLN Murty, Chief General Manager was also present on the occasion.
The Hengrabari Housing Colony Mahila Samaj also observed the Day. Delivering a speech on the theme, noted litterateur Dr Anima Guha lamented that women worldwide have not yet been able to garner enough courage to change their situations for the better.
The Indian Federation of United Nations Association, Samriddhi, an NGO, Asom Jagrata Mahila Parishad also celebrated the occasion. The GNRC also celebrated Women�s Day in its Dispur campus here.
