The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Shun NGOs lacking commitment, says Mary Ravindranath

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 22, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Shun NGOs lacking commitment, says Mary Ravindranath

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM. State Mahila Commission Chairperson Mary Ravindranath on Saturday underlined the need to discourage women NGOs interested in only making publicity.

"I have come across some NGOs who only want to hog the limelight without any commitment to protect the rights of women. The victims should be careful about an organisation's credibility before approaching it," she said while addressing the seventh anniversary function of Mahila Chaitanya Sravanthi.

Ms. Ravindranath said after gaining some publicity mileage, these NGOs would later give up the cause of the victims. "I have come across several such cases," she said.

Expressing satisfaction over low crime rate in Visakhapatnam compared to other cities in the State, she said still care should be taken to prevent trafficking of women. The State stood second in crime against women and domestic violence. "It's shocking. There are cases where five-year-old children are being converted into sex slaves. We have to take measures to stop such barbaric acts," she said.

Sexual harassment

Referring to sexual harassment of women at places of work, she said this had become a common practice at various places. She pointed out how the Mahila Commission took up the case of sexual harassment by IAS officer Mangapathi Rao against his subordinates. However, she observed that the electronic media should refrain from repeated display of clippings pertaining to harassment cases. The NGOs should also stop the practice of bringing mediapersons along with them while lodging complaints with the Mahila Commission.

She saidthat cases under Section 498 A should be registered after offering counselling to the aggrieved parties and said that some false complaints were also being entertained. Wherever there was no threat to life, a compromise should be explored.

Property right

District Judge R. Kantha Rao said though women had equal right in property share, it was not being done in most cases. He said the legislations for ending gender discrimination would be effective only when there was change in the mindset of people.

Central Excise Additional Commissioner M. Rama Rao, Visakhapatnam Bar Association president S. Srinivas Murthy, Mahila Chaitnya Sravanthi president Venkatalakshmi, executive member G. Ameeta and others spoke.

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