Wed Jan 29 19:22:19 UTC 2025: ## Kolkata Book Fair Spotlights Women’s Empowerment

**KOLKATA, INDIA** – The Kolkata International Book Fair opened Wednesday with a strong focus on women’s empowerment, spearheaded by the West Bengal Women’s Commission. Commission members emphasized the importance of creating platforms to amplify women’s voices and encourage collective action towards gender equality. The initiative aims to foster inclusive conversations about gender rights, engaging men as active participants.

The commission announced a series of events throughout the fair (running until February 9th), featuring performances by rescued and blind women, and a presentation by the Howrah Police Station Women’s Cell on the experiences of trafficked women. Renowned singers Arati Mukherjee and Iman Chakraborty will also participate.

Leena Gangopadhyay, Chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Women, highlighted the book fair as an ideal platform to reach diverse audiences. Sanghamitra Ghosh, Principal Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Welfare and Social Welfare, stressed the crucial need for widespread awareness and education, particularly among young people, advocating for the integration of gender equality into school curricula. The commission is using Kanyashree clubs and women’s clubs to further this educational effort.

Ghosh also highlighted the crucial role of Anganwadi workers in fostering conversations about gender equality at the grassroots level, emphasizing their contribution to achieving micro-level changes that complement larger-scale initiatives.

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