The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Women's Day fete

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Women's Day fete

Staff Reporter

Suhasini Maniratnam participated Women power was to the fore at Valluvar Kottam on Monday

CHENNAI: Women power was to the fore at Valluvar Kottam on Monday with over 13,000 women in self-help groups (SHGs) from more than 360 slums in Chennai participated in the International Women's Day celebrations organised by Asha Nivas.

Beginning with food stalls selling anything from bajjis, pakoras, fried and mixed rice, beverages and snacks, to clothes, paintings and handicraft items made by the SHGs were on sale.

The participants included film director and social activist Suhasini Maniratnam, who distributed awards to 14 federations of Asha Nivas. Lilly Josephine, Chief Community Development Officer, Asha Nivas, presented the annual report of the women's department. P.S. Prasad, Managing Director, Dhanalakshmi Bank, had given Rs 2 crores to 631 SHGs of Asha Nivas as credit to carry out their own micro enterprises.

T.V. Antony, national adviser, Population Stabilisation, Government of India, released a CD on the successful story of the micro-enterprises established with profit by the SHGs, titled, `A road to empowerment of Women.' K. Skandan, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women, received the first copy. He inaugurated the exhibition of 190 stalls at the premises.

D.M. Celestine, State Representative, Catholic Relief Services, released the `Viduvi' periodical newsletter of Asha Nivas for March 2006 to K. Sreedharan of the Women's Development Corporation.

There was a film screening of, `On the road to empowerment of women.' C.R. Saraswathi, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Social Welfare Board, Kurian Thomas, Director, Asha Nivas Social Service Centre and Mary Magdaline, Programme Officer, Asha Nivas, participated.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail