Participants of the meeting held at NEDFi Haat on Monday. Picture by Biju Boro

March 8: The city wore a festive look with fairs, seminars, rallies and meetings marking the International Women’s Day celebrations today.

A five-day Women’s Fair was kicked off at the NEDFi Haat today. Prominent female personalities of the city including litterateurs Nirupama Borgohain, Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi, Eli Ahmed and actress Zerifa Wahid took part in the inaugural programme.

The fair has jointly been organised by the state unit of the Integrated Congress of Women Entrepreneurs and My Fair Lady Welfare Organisation, Assam. It will include programmes for women and children. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his cabinet colleagues, apart from other well-known personalities from different walks of life are scheduled to attend the fair.

A painting exhibition by artist Prasanta Bora on the theme “Women Personalities” has also been organised at the fair. Women entrepreneurs from Karbi Anglong and Kokrajhar in Assam and Along and Zero in Arunachal Pradesh have been showcasing their products at the fair.

A rally was also taken out from Dighalipukhuri by several women’s groups. A public meeting was also held on the occasion where different issues regarding women were discussed. The main theme of the rally was Defend Women’s Rights and Fight against Communalism and Economic Aggression.

The rally was led by five women’s groups — Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Asom Mahila Sangha, Sadou Asom Pragatisil Nari Sanstha, All India Women Democratic Association and Sadou Bharat Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan.

The North East Network (NEN), Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha, Mitali Sangha, Pradeshik Mahila Samiti, Kasturba Trust and All India Bank Employee Association (Women’s Cell) also took active part in the rally.

Anurita Pathak of NEN said, “We need to understand the concepts of women’s rights and empowerment first. It’s always seen that we fail to understand the basic concepts and their legal implications.”

Asom Mahila Sangha’s secretary Asomi Gogoi said, “We wanted to rope in the youngsters, especially college girls in our programme. We want to make them aware of their rights.”

Noted social activist Anima Guha said, “Instead of a one-day celebration, there should be a sustained effort to create awareness about the rights of women all the year round. A consciousness should be created on the various problems plaguing women like low literacy rate and crime.”

The Women’s Studies Research Centre (WSRC) and the department of political science of Gauhati University organised a talk by Raj Kumar Sen, president, Indian Economic Association and head of department of economics, Rabindra Bharati University. Sen delivered a talk on Globalisation, Women and Work.

He will talk on Gender Economics: Conceptual Issues tomorrow. University teachers and members of various women’s studies research cells in different colleges participated in the interactive session.

“We will chalk out a proper plan of action for the 25 women’s studies cells all over the state. We would like to encourage all the colleges to have a cell,” Archana Sharma of WSRC said.

The Prajapita Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya has observed the day as Paribarik Samashya Samadhan Samaroh throughout the country. In the city, they organised two programmes at their Rajyoga education centres — one at New Guwahati and the other at Champaknagar, Ganeshpara. Renu Devi, ex-dean of faculty of arts, Gauhati University, participated as the chief guest in the programme at New Guwahati. State deputy secretary Pranita Deka, writer and ex-principal of Handique Girls’ College Preeti Baruah and ex-vice-principal of the college Nirmala Devi were the guests of honour.

Psychiatrist Bijoi Chaudhuri, financial adviser to the state government Padumi Gogoi, writer and social worker Rani Gohain, Gauhati Municipal Corporation counsellor Jayanta Boro and Fatasil Ambari Mahila Samabai Samiti general secretary Kamakhya Das participated in the other programme at Champaknagar, Ganeshpara.