Legal Awareness Campaign Educates Women on Rights and Public Safety

Agnishika Initiative Aims for 30,000 Signatures to Improve Women's Safety

On Women's Day, the global community comes together to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women while also acknowledging the ongoing challenges they face. It is a day to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and to reaffirm our commitment to empowering women and girls everywhere. This special occasion serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to create an inclusive and equitable society where every woman can thrive.

In an initiative for women’s empowerment, APRINS, a prominent NGO focused on agricultural and social development, partnered with the Department of Mass Communication, Journalism and Media Studies at Cotton University to host ‘Agnishika: Flames of Fire’ on March 8, 2025, at Cotton University. This Women's Day event transcended celebration, marking the beginning of a movement dedicated to ensuring tangible change in women’s lives through education, skill-building, and advocacy.

The Agnishika initiative featured a petition campaign to enhance women's public safety, aiming for 30,000 signatures. The petition called for better street lighting, increased CCTV surveillance, and accessible public toilets in key areas like markets, schools, and bus stops. The campaign was conducted both online and offline, with petition points to be submitted to Assam's Women and Child Development Minister. Additionally, legal awareness leaflets, developed with the District Legal Service Authority – Kamrup (Metro), were distributed to educate women about their rights.

Sayanika Dutta, Head of Mass Communication at Cotton University, highlighted the role of media in driving social change. She stated that the department’s collaboration with APRINS would amplify voices advocating for women’s empowerment and inspire meaningful discourse. This partnership provided students with a platform to promote change through responsible and impactful communication. Urmi Mala Mahanta, Director of APRINS, emphasized the initiative’s long-term vision, noting their ongoing commitment to improving women’s lives. She stated that beyond the event, APRINS would continue offering skill development programs for lasting impact.

The event featured discussions, expert insights, and student participation to drive sustained action beyond Women’s Day. This collaboration signified a significant step towards creating a safer and more empowering environment for women, reinforcing the importance of collective efforts in achieving gender equality.

Editor's Note:

While Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women and their contributions to society, it’s equally important to recognize that the road to gender equality is ongoing. The Agnishika: Flames of Fire event, held by APRINS in collaboration with Cotton University, goes beyond mere celebration and serves as a call to action. It’s crucial to highlight that meaningful progress in women’s empowerment doesn’t happen through empty gestures or one-off events. The petition campaign to improve women’s public safety, the focus on legal rights, and the continuous skill development efforts are exactly the kind of tangible actions that deserve attention. True celebration on Women's Day should not just be about honouring women for their resilience and achievements but also about fostering lasting change. Initiatives like Agnishika are vital because they move beyond rhetoric and address real issues — from street lighting to public toilets to legal rights that directly impact the safety and well-being of women.

Skoobuzz supports this initiative and believes that continuous, small changes will bring us closer to true gender equality. These ongoing efforts will eventually create a world where the need to remind society of women’s equality no longer exists. True progress is driven by sustained actions, not just symbolic gestures.