The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Anti-Coca Cola campaigner has her moment of glory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Anti-Coca Cola campaigner has her moment of glory

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: It was an inaugural with a difference. Mylamma who rallied a panchayat to force Coca Cola to close its plant at Plachimada was given the honour of throwing open the 17th conference of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) here on Tuesday.

In a brief address, Mylamma, who has been leading the struggle for shifting of the plant for the past three-and-half years, has alleged that the American MNC unit had polluted water and made it unfit even to cook with. She said the entire panchayat of 2,500 families was supporting her.

Right to live

Later she told reporters that people were fighting for their right to live. Everyday, batches of people undertake relay fasts to press their demands, including payment of compensation.

In her address, School Education Minister, N. Rajyalaxmi, said the only way to empower women and remove inequality was through education.

She regretted discrimination against the girl-child by parents themselves. This was one of the main causes for illiteracy among women. Flaying parties for failing to enact the law providing 33 per cent political reservations to women, she called for a collective fight to empower them.

United struggle

AIDWA general secretary S. Sudha Sundarraman called for a united struggle by NFIW and AIDWA to bring about social, economic and political changes for betterment of women. The two organisations would continue the fight for reservations in legislatures.

Magsyaysay awardee Shanta Sinha said self-help groups should become the basis for collective action demanding all services due to them. Women should be recognised as a labour force. The ICDS should be available to every child and at least four well-trained anganwadi workers should be appointed in every village.

AITUC secretary Amarjit Kaur and NFIW general secretary Annie Raja spoke.

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