National Advisory Council member and social activist Aruna Roy has called upon women to fight against violence being perpetrated on them and to assert their rights for equality in all spheres.
Speaking at the 19 annual day celebrations of Annie Besant Women’s College here on Monday, she said that girls were being discriminated against from the time they were in the womb, and that they would have to fight for their rights at every stage - be it for education, marriage or for pursuing careers.
She deplored that abuse in every language was based on women’s body and called for a fight against it.
Pointing out that women were endowed with qualities like compassion, sympathy and love, she urged them to strive for a much more humane India than what was seen today.
General Secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Annie D. Raja, expressed concern over the growing atrocities on women and asked students to assert their rights.
On marriage
She told them that marriage was not ultimate, and that it was more important to be empowered educationally and economically.
She also urged women to react when their self-esteem was at stake instead of suffering in silence.
Observing that they were lucky to be studying in a college, she wanted them to spare a thought for the unfortunate ones who were not going to school but working as child labourers.
Ms. Roy and Ms. Annie Raja gave away awards and gold medals to winners in various competitions.
