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I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights
DBHRDC, Gagillapur, Hyderabad, 9 March 2020: International Women’s Day is 
celebrated globally on 8th March with the theme “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. The theme is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls, everywhere that sets the agenda for realizing women’s rights. According to Gloria Steinem “the Story of Women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights”.
Commemorating this women’s day Bosco Seva Kendra (BSK), Planning and Development Office of the Salesian Province of Hyderabad organized a women’s day celebration on 9th of March 2020 at Don Bosco Human Resource Development Centre (DBHRDC) Gagillapuram for the women staff working for BSK, Provincial House and DBHRDC. All the women staff were welcomed in the Indian tradition by the students from Gagillapuram, keeping kumkum on their forehead and saffron on either cheeks symbolizing the sacredness of womanhood. The celebration brought joy to all the staff.
Fr Parri Sarath, in-Charge of the Centre organized the programme. He started with a universal prayer followed by extending a warm welcome to the special invitees for the programme, Ms Annie and Ms Regina well-wishers of DBHRDC, Fr Bellamkonda Sudhaakar BSK Executive Director and Mr Maarten from Netherlands.
Fr Bellamkonda Sudhakar spoke on the theme women’s day and the significance of its 
celebration and emphasized on the theme of International Women’s Day 2020: “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. In addition, a theme of DB Tech “an equal world is an enabled world”, and it’s a message that rings truer than ever before and he also spoke on the importance of empowerment of women in this fast developing society. He also encouraged them saying that ‘do not wait for opportunities but create it and try to be rainbow in some one clouds’.
Mr Maarten from Netherlands, a cooperator of Don Bosco, spoke about the celebration of women’s day focusing on women. He said “it is an important occasion for all of us to pause for a moment to reflect on ourselves, to appreciate how much has been done and what more needs to be done in the field of gender equality”. He too added, that it is the day to acknowledge all the men and women in the world for making this world a better place for everyone to live in. This international women’s day is an indication that both men and women to stand against bias, broaden perceptions, and celebrate collective individualism and equality.
The afternoon session was fun-filled as the women staff were invited and actively participated in the games and dances followed by distribution of prize to the winners.
The programme would not have been a great success without the help of Fr Bellamkonda Sudhakar, the BSK Director, Fr Parri Sarath, Assistant Director of BSK, DBHRDC students, staff and other volunteers. Mrs Vijaya from BSK extended her heartfelt gratitude to all those who marked the event in making it an extraordinary one.
