International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year with fervor and gaiety by women throughout the world irrespective of ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences. This day is a symbolic of women’s struggle for equality, justice, peace and their emancipation.
Women are always subjected to oppression and have always struggled to keep up their individuality and self identity. Woman faces discrimination in all phases of her life. Safety of women continues to be a matter of concern with increasing number of cases of violence against women. But in the modern era, relentless struggle of women to establish their individuality and self identity has enabled them to overcome the problems to a great extent. In the present day they have attained social, economic and cultural freedom to a great extent. But still atrocities attributed towards women persist.
I am happy to note that the scenario and status of women in these islands are far better than their counterparts in mainland. Here, women are self confident and self reliant. They immensely contribute towards the development of the society and the islands. However, much more still needs to be done to empower women. The International Women’s Day thus serves as a reminder of how much we have achieved and how much more still needs to be done.
I am happy to learn that various government departments, NGOs and other agencies are organizing befitting programmes to celebrate the International Women’s Day. I wish them all success.
Sd/-
Prof. Jagdish Mukhi
Lieutenant Governor
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
