March 8 just another day unless men change attitude

Mumbai, Mar 7: Though women worldwide will celebrate their day tomorrow, a city-based all men's organisation feels that the fairer sex will have very little to cheer about in a country where there is a rape every 54 minutes.

Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), an organisation formed in Mumbai by men who firmly believe women are their equals in every respect, stated International Women's Day will be just another day unless men undergo an attitudinal change.

According to the organisation, there is molestation every 26 minutes, kidnapping and abduction every 43 minutes, eveteasing every 51 minutes, dowry death every 102 minutes, cruelty act every 33 minutes and criminal offence every 7 minutes.

Its aims at bringing about an attitudinal change in men to stop and prevent violence and abuse of women in society.

MAVA secretary Harish Sadani says, ''Most of the ills in society are due to the attitude society has towards women.'' Gender issues, though synonymous with women's issues, are actually men's issues because a major part of the fault lies with the men and their attitudes and ego, says Sadani.

UNI