The Hindu : Women urged to overcome societal pressure

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 09, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Women urged to overcome societal pressure

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MARCH. 8. The International Women's Day was celebrated in the city with a number of organisations holding seminars and meetings. Various units of Kudumbashree, observed the day in different parts of the district.

At a meeting held in the city by the Janaseva Sisu Bhavan, Aluva, former Vice Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology, M.V. Pylee, said that low literacy among women is one of the key factors for the perpetration of a majority of crimes against women. Even though Kerala has made major strides in literacy, the problems of harassment and violence against women continue.

Sebastian Paul, former MP, said at the meeting that there has been an increase in the atrocities against women in modern days. He said that organisations working for women should represent to the Government and help form an opinion. The meetings are a form to register the protest against the atrocities.

Quite a few women from various parts of the State, who had faced harassment at home, participated in the meeting.

At a symposium organised by Kochi Refineries Ltd, Women and the Winds of Change, Director (Finance), KRL, Cherian N. Punnoose said during the inaugural address that women should play an important role in governance and business administration. At the meeting, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Ernakulam, Susie B. Varghese, said that all women achievers had to suffer and fight societal pressures while realising their dreams and aims.

More than 100 delegates from government departments, public sector companies and social organisations participated.

Noted writer M. K. Sanoo urged the womenfolk to adopt a tough stand towards physical assault and discrimination. He was speaking after inaugurating the women's day seminar organised by the district committee of Kerala Mahila Sangham here today.

Former State Women's Commission chairperson, D. Sreedevi, said that legal literacy among women should be increased. She was speaking at a meeting organised by the Welfare Services Ernakulam, Archdiocese of Ernakulam.

The Women's Day meeting organised by Kochi Corporation and ICDS, Kochi, was inaugurated by the former district judge, P.R. Balachandran. Members of the Anganwadi and associated women participated in the meeting.

Women working in the Cochin Special Economic Zone held a march and a public meeting in front of the CSEZ gate.

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