A hectic Women's Day

The International Women's Day was marked in a big way by Parliament - especially since last year's horrific gang-rape incident has forced the government to address women concerns. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari dispensed with the Question Hour and allowed women members to put across their views. The Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan said "there was little to celebrate" so long as mindsets are not changed. Congress' Ambika Soni talked about the Rajya Sabha already passing the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill, appealing to the Lok Sabha to pass it. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar allowed a two-hour-long debate on women safety and security, besides hosting a dinner in the evening for women mediapersons only. Women journalists had a hectic day - also attending two other functions hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Ansari.