Leone: hello friends. In today's coffee with leone, we are going to meet Ms. Dhanlakshmi. Hello madam Dhanalakshmi: Hello Sir. L: Tell us about yourself. In which union are working and what is your designation? D: I work for the women of PTS and GAFWU. Especially i work for garment workers. I am a Vice president in the union. L: Tell us more about your education, your family background. D: I am from Manamadhi village, Kanchipuram dist. Our main occupation is agriculture. I have completed my nursing education. When i visit villages for union work, they ask for first aid. For small wounds, headaches and small issues. We cannot give treatment. So to serve them i completed 2 years course. L: A person who completed a nursing course and from agriculture family background how did you come to trade union work? Did you work as labor anywhere? or how did you come to this field? D: I have worked in small NGOs. I have been a member in fine art group since 1994. We used to create dramas and songs which were related to existing problems in the workplace, how the worker ill be, state of women etc. I realised that women are facing so many problems so i have to serve them. At that time i met our head Ms. SUjata. I joined to union and now working with all types of workers like garment workers, domestic helper and construction workers. L: Good. You are in a responsible position now and did so many things. Which one do you say as your achievement? D: 10 years back, during 2008 i joined a company to work. I joined as an operator in an export company. Within one week i went inside the line for work. In that line supervisor, incharge, production incharge everyone's behaviour towards women worker really bad. They cant say their problem outside. They are adjusting everything and working there. When i was a union leader and went for i eyewitnessed this, the master was explaining the worker about a new model which was introduced, while saying this, he was touching that worker. That worker asked why are you touching me, for that he said, you have to adjust all these. That time I asked him is that necessary to touch while teaching. Is there any other way where you can explain without touching. You think you can use women as per your wish? You say it as a safe company, good for your growth, a company which supports women and called us for work. Is this safety? I asked all these to GM. After asking this all line managers said they dont me in their dept. But no one asked me to go out. Only that line said no to me. They let me for easy work. I was with a ID card of operator, i was asked to lift boxes. I said i cant lift this, look at this id I am an operator, make me sit in the machine, i will work. What i thought was somehow i have to work for these workers here and let them know their rights. I need to take their problems till labor court. After that, i joined union. Before that, i was concerned about workers, women. I wanted to find a solution for women's problem. I had all these goals so i joined the union and worked with our leader. I have taken many issues to ACL, DCL. Successfully i have completed few issues and made owners and labors to talk in front of the commissioner. L: Thank you Ms. Dhanalakshmi. The time you spent with me were great, thank you
Vimala Says Women'S Day Wishes & Information about women's day
Vijayalakshmi: WHat is your name? Chellamma: My name is Chellamma. V: What work do you do? C: I am working as a domestic helper. V: Govt has decided a wage, is it sufficient for you? C: HOw will it be sufficient. V: Correct, it will good if it is Rs.70. Only then it will be sufficient. Will the owners give extra money if you ask? C: There are not giving. They are saying even this money is too high for this work. V: Let us all protest and get Rs.70. This amount is enough for us.
I am Vijayalaskhmi from eri scheme. I heard all the programs, all were really good. Sir told about women's growth. I really liked it. Everyone please do listen to it. Many good things are shared here. Everyone please do listen to it. Thank you
Leoni: Hello friends. I think it will apt to interview Sumathi who is a hardworking member of PTS. Hello Madam Sumathi: Hello. My native is Chrompet. L: What kind of work were your parents doing? what have you studied? and what are your interests? Are you interested in doing creative works? S: I have completed my 12th. I wanted to do teacher job and Nursing job. I was stopped saying not to go to teacher job and not to become Nurse because daily you have to wear white saree. I was not sent for further studies after 12th. Earlier i used to be very lean and my mom said you cannot go and shout in front of everyone. So my mom told me not to go for this. L: Because you were lean, your mom thought my daughter cannot shout in front of students. but now you are a leader in a union and doing the work of 10 teachers. Very happy. Tell us more about your husband and children. S: When i was married we were at my in-laws house. I never used to go out for anything. Even buying vegetables was done by others at home. Even if we ride cycle, people used to say, what kind of girl is she? SHe is riding a bicycle. Even if we put on a handbag, people used to comment. So i was asked to go without carrying a handbag or carry normal bag. From that level, i joined PTS as a member and now grown up as secretary. That itself is a proud thing for me. Many people from that village are coming to meet me, they are asking me to write a petition, people are asking my suggestions, many people are asking how to get marriage benefit etc. I am treated as a leader in village. It makes me happy. I didnt knew all these. I am proud that i have grown up in PTS and i am working among women. L: Your in-laws who restricted you from wearing handbag, did they oppose you when you joined PTS? S: My father in- law appreciated me when i joined PTS. He is the one who allowed me to join PTS. L: the person who opposed holding handbag, why did he allow you to join PTS? S: During those time the vice president was Devi. She explained that we are working for and working among the welfare of women. When I joined PTS, i constructed a house and conducted a house warming ceremony. And PTS presented me a gift. AT that time my father in law came to me and told me that they came till here and gave this gift to you. So never forget PTS and always be a part of PTS. L: I am really happy to hear this. A great change of thought for him. Now we heard about Sumathi, who is one of the heads of PTS. How she changed her life and made it as news and shared it with us. Thank you Sumathi.
I am Vijayalakshmi from eri scheme. I went to Trichy, only after going there i came to know that 2 soldiers from Tamil nadu have lost their lives. One soldier's name is Subramanian and another soldier's name is Jayashankar. I saw the poster. It was really painful. Only by seeing the poster i realized that 2soldiers among the 44 were from TN. Mam told that there is a law came to existence in which the bus driver should stop the bus whenever any school children show the hand. That's good news. Many children are suffering. They have to walk so long to catch a bus. The law is useful. Many useful news are being shared in UK. Everyone please do listen to it. Anthoniamma shared that she liked the program. In the same way everyone should listen to it make use of it. Just give a missed call you will get a call. make use of it. Many people are working behind it. SO listen to it daily.
Vijayalakshmi: Whats your name? Bhagyam: My name is Bhagyam. V: What are you working as? B: I am working as domestic helper. V: How are they treating you? Are they throwing things at you? B: No. They are taking good care of me. V: How long are you working there? B: From past 5 years. V: Are they treating you as a family member? B: They are treating me as a family member. V: Though we work as domestic helper, we have all the respect. If we work properly we will get respect. B: Ok. V: How many kids do you have? B: 2. One son and one daughter. V: Raise your daughter and make her a brave girl. Both boy and girl are same. Tell her about the world ad raise her. Thank you
Jeeva: My name is Jeeva, I am from Ayanavaram and I am working in Mogappair. I am working as a sanitary worker. Vijalakshmi: What to do think about women's day? Jeeva: Women's day for the betterment of women. They are conducting a meeting and celebrating. They have appreciated us and felicitated. Dont know what are they planning to this year. Last year i was felicitated by the counselor. Dont know what are they doing this year. Vijayalakshmi: How things are now? Jeeva: Things are better now when compared to earlier. But we are facing problem in our work. Other than that everything is going on well. Vijalakshmi: Are they degrading you? Jeeva: No no nothing like that. We have problems at work nd they are threatening us by saying they will remove us from work. That's what we are thinking about what to do if they send us out of job. Vijayalakshmi: If we fight we can achieve anything in life. Thank you
Vijayalakshmi: What is your name? Sumathi: My name is Sumathi. V: March 8th is celebrated as Women's day. So they have asked to register about women. What do you think, how the women should be? S: Women should be compassionate. V: Women are not given importance or priority in anything. What is your say about this? S: We can conduct a protest to give respect to women. Every man should take it forward. V: What do feel about sexual abuse? S: If proper punishments are given, it will not continue in the future. V: Tell more about your husband. S: He is a nice and loving person. ON this women's day i would like to say that all women should respect men. The way we respect men, they ill respect us back. V: SUmathi said it beautifully, we will get respect only if we give it. S: We cannot just complaint about men, there are few women who are not respecting, if we respect others, we will get the same. V: Thank you
Vijayalakshmi: Whats your name? Sumalatha: My name is Sumalatha. V: What is your say about women's day? S: Wome should be given first priority. Women should walk freely without any trouble. Mainly men should understand them. Wome should be given first priority in everything. V: What is your opinion about child sexual abuse? How can we protect it? S: Children should be taught all these while growing. How to mingle with people. They should be taught to approach if anyone touche them with bad intention. They should run away from that. From their childhood, they should be trained to safeguard themselves. Even boys should be taught to treat girls as their sister and mother. That's main. V: Thank you Sumalatha for your wonderful thoughts.