Leone: Hello friends. Today we have Ms.Saraswati Incharge of PTS Thiruvallur dist. Hello Mam. Saraswati: Hello Sir. L: Please say about yourself. S: I was doing the milk business at home. Kasturi and Uma came to meet me from the union. They asked me to join union because i am doing business. They said joining union i good for me. Later they used to come every now and then. Later they asked me to find an office and set an office. I have set up the office and made the members to come from all over the branch. Later they asked me to become the office incharge. Even after being educated it was of waste. I used to think that i am wasting my education. After joining there, i gained knowledge. Initially i used to feel shy. Later i started writting and my hand writting was good. I used to check the problems of people and used to join them in union. I also used to help them in taking to welfare dept and making them members. I used t write their problem in a paper and give it to head office. After coming here i came to know whom to approach and how to approach. Before joining union i didn't know anything. But after joining PTS i learnt about the outside world. Realised the problem of people and whom to approach to solve the problem. Like this i learnt so many things. L: Really happy to hear this. What is your qualification? S: I have studied till 10th std. sir. L: Now you are in PTS, is your husband supporting for all these? S: He is really supportive. He says that before telling to others you should understand it and till now he is supporting me. Even if I go late, he adjusts. If it crosses 9pm he calls me and asks where am I and says you do your work but side by side please do take care of the family too. L: Very adjustive and cooperative. Now there are women in construction work, garment work, domestic work etc. Normally what is their state of mind? S: Construction workers are struggling and those days they didn't have much income. They used to get Rs.150 to Rs.200. But now they are getting Rs.700 to Rs.1000. Now they are getting good money. Recently because of lack of sand, many are struggling without job. Even 100days job was stopped for a while. We went on behalf of PTS and conducted the meeting, spoke during gram sabha and gave petition. Now villagers are getting 100days scheme work. The public has trust on PTS. ANd they are saying people to join PTS so that they will join you in the welfare scheme and help you in need. All members and charges are very cooperative.
I am Vijayalakshmi from AKR nagar. We celebrated women's day in AKR Nagar. All madam were present. Thank you for accepting our invitation and coming to our area. We all were proud and happy. They spoke about Pollachi issue and they have put forth 10 requests. They explained it to us. Sumathi madam told that women should get justice and even in school, the syllabus should be changed according to it. If it happens, women will get respect to some extent. Elections are nearing and our requests should be fulfilled. They told 10 demands, and we liked it. We are happy and proud that all madams were present and we celebrated women's day.
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,
I am Vijayalakshmi from eri scheme. Meeting was held in Ambattur. Vishnu sir, Govindraj sir, Santhanamari mam, Kani everyone were present. We all participated in that meeting. They asked us the problems faced in urimai kural. They were checking whether all the facilities given by them are reaching us or not. We are liking it and its really good. All are doing their work properly. Bharathi madam checks everything and asks us. Everyone please listen to Urimai kural. Many are working behind this. We should make use of it and dont miss anything. Thank you all sir's.
I am Vijayalakshmi. I hear all the programs of UK. Prema's message on self-defence was good. Everyone please follow it. The news was also good.
Janaki talking about Women safety.
Leone: Hello friends. Today we are going to meet Ms. Sujata Modi. Hello Mam. What is your message for this International women's day? Sujata: All women should work hard or take steps for their self-respect, to fulfil their dreams & desires. Next. we have union members. They should strengthen the union and try to give equality. My wishes for everyone who are in villages and in cities. In this International women's day let a take an oath that this year we should be even more united and work together for our self-respect, dignity, to lead a dignified life. Each woman's problem in every women's problem. Let us not seeit as women's problem but let us see as society's problem. Society has a great role in it. We are working for equality among men and women. We should set a good life for women workers. They should get full rights inside and outside the house. All the decisions needs to be taken by both men and women. Leone: Thank you mam. We have got a wonderful message On the occasion of International women's day from Ms. Sujata modi who has taken alot of effort for the development of Women. Thank you mam.
I am Vijayalakshi from eri scheme. Many good programs are published in urimai kural. All dramas, songs are nice. Please listen to it.
I am Vimala from Mogappair. All girls are self-disciplined. Nobody is without self-discipline. Few are making mistakes and they have been blackmailed. I condemn her statement. All girls are self-disciplined. Only few are not. But her statement disgraces the entire girl community. I condemn her statement.
I am Vijayalakshmi from eri scheme. Now things are getting worse. During those day people used to kill girl babies by giving Cactus milk. Now in this present world, we are scared and worried to send our girls out. This present situation is again forcing to say no Girl child. Morning i saw news in which 70 years old man raped 12-year old girl. It needs a proper solution for this.