Women calls for gender equality on IWD

New Delhi/ Mumbai Mar 8: Various women organizations gathered here today to urge government to shed apathy towards ensuring gender equity on International Women's Day (IWD).

"We are observing the day as the day of breach of confidence. Many promises were made to us, we were told that 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs and in Parliament would be made. We were told that there will be a violence free society, women will get equal wages but it has not been passed due to male opposition to the bill," said Mohini Giri, an activist.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai women's rights activists in took out a silent candle-light march to express the plight of women.

"It is basically for women who need help and really don't know where to turn to most times," said Shama Kulkarani, a women activist.

The activists also launched a new helpline for women facing violence and sexual harassment.

Legislation banning dowry, a custom that frequently lead to women being abused by husbands and parents-in-law, was passed in 1961 but is still widely flouted.

The role of women has changed since India's economic reforms began in the 1990s and increasing globalization has opened up the traditional and largely conservative South Asian nation to the rest of the world.

ANI