I am Prema. Nowadays we can see beauty parlours in many places. It will be useful for young girls if Martial arts classes can be started in few places. There are private martial arts classes going but it will be useful for Govt school children and Poor children if it is taken in Govt schools. It will help in growing self-confidence and courage in young girls.
Vimala from AKR nagar sharing her views about women safety after Pollachi rape case
I am Vijayalakshmi from Eri scheme. Many things are shared in UK. If i switch on Urimkai kural, i dont feel like switching it off because so many programs, dramas, songs are being shared here. Please do listen to it. My wishes for Urimai kural.
I am Vimala. Today i heard the programs played in UK. In NSS they shared about the importance of beans. It was good. Pushparani shared the information on Welfare board. She told the names of 17 welfare board. Kindly play it for 4 days. Dont delete it. Thozhilalar seithigal (Labors news) Was good. I heard the news on summer in Kerala. Recently i went to Kerala. They all started their work 8.30 work, at 7 O' clock. They are finishing the work by 1 pm and coming back to work. They said during heavy summer they do this. This came to my mind when i heard the news. Thank you
I am Vimala from Mogappair. On 12th they conducted meeting in Pursawalkam. People from many states attended this meeting. Second time I am attending this meeting. First time i went to Maharastra to attend this meeting. Every state's representatives spoke about the problems faced by their state labours. People from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharastra were present in this meeting and they expressed their requests. They discussed on what demands can be expressed. Many people said that wages is not given properly, women are treated as slaves. And they also discussed to put forth our demands before the election comes. Geetha spoke about 100 days work scheme. She said that in her area 100 days work was given only for 60 days and wages was not given properly. I wanted to say that Domestic helpers dont have any settlement when they leave the work. Some laws should be implemented for their benefit. But i couldn't say it. But in next meeting i will say it for sure.
I am Vijayalakshmi from ERI scheme. Yesterday we went for a meeting. People from Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi and other different states were present in that meeting. They shared their problems. We too got an opportunity to talk. In AKR nagar when the parents go for work, the kids are playing outside and struggling alot. We have requested for a creche for kids. For domestic helper, how much ever we may work, if we are taking one day leave, they are sending us out of work. If a person works in a company they will get a settlement. But for domestic helpers, its not available. We dont have ESI or any other benefits. I thought of asking it. But i couldn't ask. I can ask all these in UK. I can share my problems here. So registering it here. For domestic helpers, even if we work so many days we dont have leave. It will be good if we get leave at least 1 day in a week. The salary increment is also not sufficient for us. It will be good if we get Rs.70 minimum. I thought of saying all these. But i couldnt say it. Mam gave me opportunity to go and talk. But I didnt make use of it. Feeling bad for it. The meeting is for 3 days. We attended for 1 day. We got to know many things. We will be happy if they could talk to Govt and implement this wage.
Leone: Today we are going to meet Ms. Sujata Modi. Hello Madam. You are running a union for garment workers. Please say about it. Sujata: 10 years back we started Garments and Fashion workers union. We wanted to meet these garment workers. but they were always busy either doing the garment work or by sleeping. We were nit able to meet them even if we go to their village. Many times i have visited them. When I go to their home, they will be sleeping, we will wake them and talk to them. That was the situation. we were following for some time. During 2007 we took a big decision. Till now we worked among Unorganised workers but workers who are working in the factory are facing many problems. During 2007 when Nokia was started we gave a bit notice saying know your rights. This notice reached almost 10 to 15 thousand workers. This notice one of the worker of MEPZ's celebrity fashion company, Her name was Vijaylakshmi and she was working as an operator. With that notice, she called our number. That was a great surprise, i didn't expect it. Vijaylakshmi joined with me to start a Garment workers union and now we have reached this level. Leone: That's great Mam. How many members do you have in this garment union? Sujata: We have less members in the garment union. We have almost 2000 members. But the work we have done for them has reached across Tamilnadu. During 2014 the Govt has introduced a wage report. Their wage reached from 3500 to 7000. We have less members but we took full effort to implement this. As per 2014's report, the Govt cancelled the petition of those 600 companies and told them to give this wage. I didn't do this for my members but i did it for entire women. I thought they should get extra money and lead a respected life and they also should have rights in their hand. Leone: Wonderful mam. Interview with Sujata mam will continue in next episodes.
Kalaivani Wishes For Women's Day
Vijayalaskhmi here. Happy women's day to all. All madams shared how the union was started and what all they did. Happy to hear all that. They have struggled so much and started the union. Sujata madam, Dhanalakshmi madam, everyone has spoken here. Thank you everyone. Thank you Vimala for sharing information and background of women's day celebration. We are knowing many information through UK. SO requesting all to make use of it.
Leone: Hello friends. Today as part of International women's day we are going to interview Ms. Sujatha Modi. She has created many unions leaders. She belongs to a well-educated family and finished her education and she is working for the workers and lower level people. She started unions for such people's benefit and its successfully running from many years. It will be apt to interview her on this women's day. Hello mam. Sujatha: Hello. Leone: By hearing your name, we are able to make it out that you have come to this state from another state, well educated. Now you are working here. How did you get this motivation? S: From my very young age i knew that women are facing injustice. No matter whether they are at home or go out to work, they are facing so many issues. During my childhood, i used to see this and think why is this injustice happening in our society. I wanted to do something First i studied economics. Even while studying that i was searching for the reason for this. When i was a student i used to attend union meetings and participate in many types of protests. Every small experience gave to knowledge. So in 1999, i came to a decision to start a union so that women should get recognition. With that motive, i stated this union PTS. L: Thats great mam. How many members are there in this PTS which was started in 1999? S: While starting this union.... I remember so many things because joining people in initial stage was very difficult. In the first 3 years we were able to join only 300 members. After that many have joined. Now the union has grown and its working in 4 districts. More than 200 branches we have. Almost 20000 women workers have joined this union. I really feel proud. L: The huge banyan tree is hidden in seeds. In the same way when you started this union that too among the bottom level who doesn't know whom to trust. Build trust among such people and join them in union reaching 20000 is great thing. If 20000 women are members in union it means, 20000 families have joined union. Really its a great work. Congratulations Madam. Its difficult to include Sujatha Modi's 20 years journey in union in one single episode. So this will be continued to another episode.