HT Correspondent
Varanasi, March 8
RALLIES, SEMINARS and exhibitions were organised here on Thursday to mark the International Women’s Day. A large number of women rallied against domestic violence and female infanticide.
The rallyists set off from the main gate of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and passed through Lanka, Durgakund, Vijaya crossing, Shivala and Bhadain. The rally concluded at Assi. The rally was held under the banner of World Literacy of Canada, Varanasi branch. It is a premier literacy agency working in several countries.
A large number of women, including ruralfolk, participated in a meeting at the district headquarters to press for women’s rights. The meeting was organized under the auspices of the Social Action Research Centre (SARC), a non-government organisation, and Mahila Chetna Samiti.
The Centre for Women’s Studies and Development, the Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the Faculty of Visual Arts at BHU jointly organised a painting competition and exhibition on ‘Varanasi Through Women’s Eyes’, and ‘Women-Forging Ahead’.
Human Welfare Association volunteers took out a rally in Sarnath and offered prayers for peace and amity. Later, a workshop was organised. Association director Dr Rajnikant, Pyari Devi, Kumari Naushaba and Madhuri Singh were prominent among those who addressed the gathering.
A seminar on “Women Changing Social Atmosphere in India” was organised at the Matri Bhawan in Bhelupur area on Thursday to mark the occasion.
Matri Bhavan director Father M Santiago, Prof Sushila Singh, Principal of Mahila Mahavidyalaya, and Dr Vijay Shivpuri, Principal of Basant Mahila Mahavidyalaya, were prominent among those who addressed the seminar.