There are a slew of events in the city today to mark International Women’s Day. While many of these women-centric events are well meaning initiatives, a good number are simply aimed at courting publicity. The day itself is on the public radar because of slick packaging, huge hype and the media mileage from using women’s causes as a platform.

It is very fashionable to root for women’s rights and make all the correct noises about empowerment. Yet, cutting through all the spiel, one still sees media rife with reports of women still facing assault and abuse all over the country.