Leone: Hello friends. On the occasion of International Women's day, we are meeting and interviewing union heads. Today we are going to meet State Treasurer of PTS Ms. Santhanamari. Hello Mam. Santhanamari: Hello. L: You are State Treasurer of PTS. How did you come to this position? Were you a member and then became the State Treasurer? Or through the work experience in different social work organizations did you reach this position? S: I had a small shop. At that time they conducted a meeting from PTS. At that time they told me, you should be the State Treasurer, i joined as member, then i became State Treasurer. L: From how many years are you in this union? S: I am here from past 16 years. I Joined in 2003. L: What type of changes are there in your life as a woman who had a small shop and now as a State Treasurer? S: During those time i had a desire to do social work. I am not saying because of salary, i worked for 3 years without salary. I had an interest to work among women. I joined women to the union, started new branches. I started 5-6 branches. So mam told me, you have started branches, so you be the Incharge. I said ok for that. L: Happy to know about your works. What am i asking is, before joining this union and working among women, were aware of the laws and rights of women? S: NO. I had no idea. After joining union i joined in many meetings. In those meetings they spoke about many things and i came to learn many things, So i thought of giving awareness to the women about the things they dont know. So i started conducting meeting and started sharing the problems. L: Life is a school and daily we should learn things. After joining union you came to know about the laws and right related to women. Please share any main problem which you faced after joining union as an Incharge. S: IN our area, there were a lot of trashes dumped. They used to burn the trashes so people use to fall sick and many got cancer. Later we undertook a survey. We gave petition and proper actions were not taken. Then we called all our incharges and conducted a hunger strike. After the protest the trashes were cleared. L: Thats great. Even if you are a member in a union often you have to come for meetings. Now you are a treasurer and you have to spend most of your time here. This should have taken more tie from you. Was that a problem in your house? Is your husband and others are supportive? S: Initially they were not! Because i was studied till 8th std only. I was not aware of many things. So in my house they told, you dont know about Chennai. Be careful and there will be many problems. I wanted to do social work. Later they understood me. Many people started calling me so they told me to dothis service. L: Thats great. Because men or women, we can achieve things only if our family is supportive. In that way you need to thank your husband. On this International WOmen's day as a State treasurer and Incharge what is your message? S: I desire is every women should come out of the house. Make your kids study, come out and teach things to others too. Happy WOmen's day to all. L: THank you,
