PRAYAGRAJ, March 9 -- Various programmes were organised across Prayagraj on Sunday to mark International Women's Day. A district-level programme was held at the Vikas Bhawan premises where meritorious girl students and women excelling in different fields were honoured. Sports kits were also distributed to five Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls' Schools and five Mahila Mangal Dals. The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by chief guest Phulpur MP Praveen Patel, special guest Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission member Geeta Vishwakarma, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and chief development officer Harshika Singh. Participants also watched a live telecast of the chief minister's address from Lucknow. After the broadcast, girls from the district who performed well in the 2025 state board examinations of classes 10 and 12 were felicitated. Under the Mission Shakti campaign, 90 women from 16 departments working for women's safety, dignity and self-reliance were honoured with shawls, mementoes and certificates. Five women employees were also recognised for their contribution to the Child Marriage Free India campaign. Addressing the gathering, MP Praveen Patel said women's empowerment is essential to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047. More than 600 women and children attended the event. To mark International Women's Day, Military Hospital Prayagraj organised a health awareness programme and medical camp at the Cobra Auditorium. The programme began with the lighting of the lamp by Mrs Dipika Dagar. A health awareness skit and a lecture were also presented, highlighting the rising cases of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. The skit stressed the need to adopt healthy lifestyles and the importance of preventive healthcare.A medical camp was also organised during the event. It offered services such as general health check-ups, eye and ENT consultations, bone density tests, gynaecology, dermatology, dental check-ups, vaccination, dietician advice and laboratory tests. Many people attended the camp and availed the services. Bone density assessment saw the highest participation. Participants appreciated the initiative and highlighted the need for regular health awareness programmes. The Prayagraj Branch of the Central India Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) also organised a special programme to mark the occasion. The event was held at Tulsiani Plaza in Civil Lines. CA Mamta Gupta and CA Sonal Agrawal attended as keynote speakers. They spoke about women's empowerment and the growing role of women in society. They also encouraged female students and professionals to move forward with confidence and determination. The programme ended with a cake-cutting ceremony. Chartered accountants, CA students and faculty members from IT and OC batches participated in the celebration. Members of the Prayagraj Branch Managing Committee, including chairman Shubham Agrawal, vice chairman Abhinav Kohli, secretary Shanky Kasera, treasurer Ata-ur-Rahman, head of CA Students Prayagraj Association Rohan Kesarwani and immediate past chairman Sushil Kumar Shukla, thanked all the speakers, students and members....