To mark the importance of the women’s day and celebrate the achievements of our own women who have persevered through much adversity to set their feet on the path to success, DDWS celebrated International women’s Day with great enthusiasm on 8th and 9th March 2014 at St. Joseph’s College, Allahabad. On this occasion women from various districts of Uttar Pradesh participated in the programme.

Chief Guest of the program was Most Rev. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of Allahabad and other guests like Rev. Fr. K. K. Anthony, Director, Nazereth Hospital, Rev. Fr. Loius, Principal, St. Joseph’s College, Shri Lallan Rai, Political leader, U.P., Mrs. Subhasrathi, Advocate High Court, Mrs. Hemlata, Prof. Allahabad University, Mrs. Manju Pathak, Social Activist, Pratima Singh, S.O. Mahila Thana, Civil lines, Mr. Rajendra Dukain ji, Record holder in Limca Book of World Record and other were also present in the programme.

The program began with a welcome song presented by the women from Kanpur Double Pulia in honor of Most Rev. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of Allahabad. Speaking on the inaugural session Fr. K.K. Antony (Director, Nazareth Hospital Allahabad) described about the importance of International Women’s day and the role of women in building up the society. On this special occasion Rev. Fr. Louis Mascarenhas also encouraged women to demand for their rights from the society and stop women exploitation.

To portray the situation of women in India a drama was presented by Mariampur Hospital, Kanpur. Further Hemlata Srivastava also welcomed all the participants and spoke few lines on women’s right and the importance of Women’s Day

Further Lallan Rai, Agriculture Minister, UP spoke about the schemes related to women. Thereafter Mrs. ubhasrathi, Adv. HC, also motivated the participants to be independent and demand for their rights. She also appreciated the work of all the organizations working for a women’s right through legal awareness.

Mrs. Pratima Singh also encouraged all the women participants to fight for their rights. She explained how by her own experience in her family she is able break certain traditions that are gender biased and how she is able to convince people and society about it. Finally, the program was blessed by Bishop Swamiji. Various presentations and drama, songs were performed by different social work centers. Certificates and awards were also distributed to the participants for their performances. Overall the program was fruitful in acknowledging women’s right by the participants.