The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Panel to meet quarry workers

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Sunday, Mar 09, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Panel to meet quarry workers

Staff Reporter

To check rising incidence of suicide in and around Pudukottai district

— Photo: R. Ashok

ASSERTION: Women taking out a rally to mark International Women’s Day on Saturday.

PUDUKOTTAI: Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women Chairperson K.M. Ramathal on Saturday said the panel would spread awareness among women quarry workers in the district on their rights and counsel them on tackling sexual harassment at the workplace.

Participating in a State-level conference here on ‘Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act,’ organised as part of International Women’s Day, Dr. Ramathal said a number of cases of women quarry workers committing suicide had been reported in and around the district. She had also verified the fact with Revenue Divisional Officer D. Mohan.

The Commission would organise a meeting with the quarry workers in a few months to extend counselling to them and to create awareness of laws governing their rights. The women workers were reportedly subjected to mental stress by their male supervisors, she said.

She clarified that the provisions of the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act were meant to protect women’s rights and were not against men.

Dr. Ramathal paid rich tributes to Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, who fought against the ‘devadasi’ system by moving a bill in the Assembly.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy said the socio-economic status of women got elevated after the introduction of the concept of self-help group in the State.

He listed out the women-oriented measures, including the Act on equal rights for women to inherit property and recruitment of women police and special assistance for marriages, introduced by the DMK-led State government in the past.

Commission members P. Vanitha and C. Sangamithirai and District Social Welfare Officer A. Azhaguselvi were among those who spoke.

Earlier, a large number of women took out a procession from the public office.highlighting their rights.

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