The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Indecent portrayal of women decried

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 09, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Indecent portrayal of women decried

By Our Staff Reporter

Brinda Karat, president of All India Democratic Woman's Association leading a procession of the AIDWA in Hyderabad on Friday. The AIDWA leaders, B. Punyavathi (left) and Mallu Swarajyam (right) are seen. Photo: P.V.Sivakumar

HYDERABAD, OCT. 8. The general secretary of the All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Brinda Karat, has expressed displeasure over the indecent portrayal of women in advertisements.

Ms. Karat has called upon women to fight for rights like reservation, legislation against domestic violence and a separate scheme for regular employment to women under the Food-for-work programme.

AIDS campaign

Speaking at a large public meeting to mark the 10th anniversary of the AIDWA here on Friday, she criticised the way women were degraded in advertisements. She questioned the rationale behind the "Puliraja ku AIDS vostundaa' campaign, which, she said, showed concern for men but ignored women.

She objected to certain State Governments insisting on the two-child norm and issuing warnings that parents would be denied ration cards and Government jobs if they had a third child. She said the two-child norm was unacceptable. "The craze for boys is leading to sex determination tests, which force unwilling mothers to undergo abortions if the scan shows a female foetus. The trend has already brought about a gap in the boy-girl ratio in several districts," she said.

While welcoming the change of guard at the Centre and in the State, Ms. Karat wanted women to continue their fight to force the Union Government to implement its promises in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

TDP's defeat hailed

The AIDWA leader complimented the women in the State for "throwing out the Telugu Desam Government." "India could not win a gold medal in the Olympics but the women of Andhra Pradesh did win the gold medal by defeating Chandrababu's Naidu's party," she said.

Earlier, AIDWA members took out a procession from Indira Park to the Sundaraiah Vignan Kendram circle. The AIDWA leaders, Mallu Swarajyam, Punyavati and T. Jyothi, addressed the gathering.

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