I am Vimala from Mogappair. Sujatha mam's interview was really good. Women's day wishes to all. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sujatha mam spoke really well. She gave a good example that how a woman should be. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sujatha Modi, I heard your interview in UK. It was really good. Women's day wishes to all. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am Pushparani from Vadanimalai. I heard Sujatha mam's interview in UK. Many houses kids use bad language we should advice them. Thank you Sujatha.
id, 2440416,2440856,2441139 I am Sarathy from Ayapakkam. I heard Dhanalakshmi's talk in UK about atrocities happening in garments. What she said is right. Union is working for that. People will be scared of unions. I am happy for that. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am Geetha. Dhanalakshmi's talk in UK was really good. In what kind of situation women are going for work everything was explained well. After hearing this I believe that many women will join union. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am Vijayalakshmi. March 8th is women's day. Sujatha mam, Sumathi mam, and Dhanalakshmi mam spoke very well. They have worked hard for union. Now we have 20000 members in union. The union is very helpful and gave us courage to fight back. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I am Kamala from Munthirithopu. Interviews of Sujatha mam, Sumathi and Dhanalakshmi was really good. We are proud that our union is reaching different heights.
I am Vijayalakshmi from eri scheme. I heard Dhanalakshmi mam's interview in UK. I am really happy. Thank you for fighting for women's rights. Even we are following your footsteps and telling everyone about women rights. Even if we go to any other village or any other area, we keep talking about things done by our mam. And telling them to be like that. 8th March is women's day so i request you to sing a song which you sing for women right.
I am Vimala from Mogappair. In coffee with Leone, Sujatha mam was talking. How much did she struggle, what all did she do, things she has done for women rights and women safety. We will do our part for the growth of union's growth. Many more branches of PTS should be formed. We will show our support to mam. Many people tld me that mam is talking in UK radio, i told them mam is the head of PTS and do listen to UK radio. They said its really nice to hear. People were happy to hear mam's interview.
I am Prema from Ambattur PTS. I heard the interview of Sujatha modi on the occasion of women's day. I was amused to know about her work for the growth of union. I am happy to know that she is uniting this union from last 20 years and won many protests. Now PTS has 20000. My wishes for her.
Leone: Hello friends. Today we have Ambattur office incharge paul kani. Hello Mam. Kani: Hello sir. L: Please tell us more about you. What's your qualification and which is your native place. K: I am from Ratthinamangalam from Kanchipuram dist. I have studied till 12th. and completed typewriting Tamil and English. L: Did you work in any union or any mills? Or how did you enter this field? K: I met Sandhanamari mam on June 8th, 2015 while dropping my daughter to school. I never that there is a women worker union. I live in Ambattur area. While talking to her, she told me that there is a vacancy in the Ambattur office. During those time i was working as a typewriter in Taluk office on the contract basis. That was not a regular job. So i thought i ll go and meet them. When i went there, i got introduced to PTS. I worked her and i really like the job. And continuously working for his. L: What did you learn after coming to Union? K: Naturally i am not a talking person. I talk only with my family members, i have never spoken to anyone other than my family members. But after joining here one main problem was i cannot talk to those who come to the office. Writing work is really easy but i had to talk to people who come there and write down their problems. If mam is there, then i have no problem, i will do my work but if mam is not there, i had no other option than talking to the visitors. So i started talking and now people say i talk too much. Earlier i used to talk and pass information to those who are at home. But now i am passing the information like Voter ID correction, health camps etc through Urimai kural. This makes me happy. L: Every human being has a social responsibility. Being a woman you found your social responsibility and doing it. Is it so? K: Yes of course. When i used to be at home, i used to think that only i am facing the problem, other than me all are doing good. But after joining union, i realize that many women are suffering alot. By seeing them i realize that i am really blessed. We were taking the young widows list. Many people come here just by reference. Many dont know what to do after their husband's death. Almost everyone died due to alcohol addiction and few died due to the accident. And the women come here they have 2 kids. Their age will be 28-30-32. A person named Kumuda spoke to me. I couldn't sleep that night. Repeatedly she was coming in my thoughts. Because she has no background. Even her In-laws side they have no background. They work in an export company. I am going for housekeeping work. I have to work and take care of 2 kids. I have to eat. Dont know how all this is possible. 1st day she was crying alot. She didnt listen to any of our words. After 2 days again she came back and spoke to us. She said, she has applied for police work under the young widow category. She seemed to be fine that day. Even we gave her some advice. Every woman are facing problems. Please remove the mask which you are wearing. I have told this in Urimai kural few months back. Every woman has talent but after marriage, you wear a mask saying i am a wife of alcohol addict, i am this, i am that. Please remove this mask. Be yourself. Only then we can grow in our life. This is my view. L: Wonderful!!
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.
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,
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.
Leone: Hello friends. Today we are going to meet Ms. Sujata Modi. Hello Mam. From the past 20 years, you have dedicated yourself and working with domestic and Garment workers. Once i asked your suggestion to start Vizhithelu drama when we met, you gave a beautiful suggestion, i have really liked it very much. We will take care of Women's rights related to PF, ESI. You just convey the message in drama that parents should not scold their children with bad words, should not drink. Just put the disciplinary things which they should add up in their day to day life. It would be great if you share the reason for it. Sujata: I am leading a fortunate life. I have wonderful parents. They brought me up like a glass doll. I have never faced any problem in my life. Tillmy 21st year, till i saw the outside world, I didn't know about the problem. After that when i met people i heard people saying, i have no right to go out, my dad did this, my mom forced me to get married, my brother is fighting with me intentionally, he is beating me. SO many problems inside the family. Even outside girls had no safety there. They are facing problems when they go in bus, when they go to work. To say the truth, there is no equality for the women who are with us. They are not leading the life as men do. What we can do for this equality? We go to college and learning many things. But the labours they are not able to ask for their rights. Unions are like college. If they come to the union they should learn the go forward in life. I want them to get equality in life and lead a respectful life. Leone: You said it beautifully. Usually unions are called as the place which fights for you. But for the first time, you are saying it as a social college to learn. Wonderful mam. Interview with Sujata mam will continue in next episodes.