Mobile Vaani

Lakshmi: Brother... How are you? Silvanus: My dear, we met yesterday and again today you are asking me how are you? Lakshmi: Oh yeah!! we met yesterday. I totally forgot in my busy work schedule Silvanus: Did you forget what all I told you about Gram sabha yesterday? Lakshmi: Brother... Dont under estimate me. I will tell you what all you explained me yesterday about Gram sabha. Silvanus: Oh really!! Let me see.. Tell me Lakshmi: Gram sabha is like parliament in our panchayath. Court has ordered to follow decisions taken in gram sabha. For example, if gram sabha decides to shut down liquor shop in their village, nobody can start liquor shop there. Gram sabha is very powerful. The gram sabha meetings happen 4times in a year, i.e on January 26th, May 1st, August 15th and October 2nd. Silvanus: Very good... Who will believe if I say you are uneducated. You are very brilliant. Super. I asked you to share it with your friends and neighbors. Did you share? Lakshmi: Yes.. I have shared it with everyone. We all are going to participate in tomorrow’s gramsabha in our panchayath. Silvanus: Very good my dear. Please do participate in gram sabha. But before that, know the process of gram sabha. It will be useful for you when you take part in it. Lakshmi: Sure brother Silvanus: Gram sabha should be headed by Panchath council head. 7 days before that meeting the gist of meeting should be discussed with panchayth council members and the report should be prepared. Lakshmi: Who should prepare the report brother? Silvanus: Of course panchayath head!! Lakshmi: Okay.. How will they intimate people about this? Silvanus: It will be done through public announcement or by giving pamphlets and by sticking posters in main areas. Lakshmi: Oh okay Silvanus: Same way, these meeting should not happen in any particular religion places. If there are many villages in a particular area, on rotation basis gram sabha meetings should be conducted. On the same day Income and expenditure account will be read on this day. If district collector or Rural development director wants to discuss any specific point, they must discuss it on that day. Lakshmi: Ohhhh… So many things are involved Silvanus: Yes!!! Tomorrow when you attend, make sure that everything is happening. If they are missing something, you should question them. Lakshmi: Definatly I will brother. And one more thing brother.. Silvanus: Please ask my dear Lakshmi: My friends anted to know whether food will be provided during gram sabha? Silvanus: There you go!!! Our people will never change. If they get anything to eat, they will nod their head for anything and everything. Then how can we find growth? Everyone will cheat. Lakshmi: What are you saying brother? Silvanus: Yeaa my dear!!! For every meeting, they can spend up to Rs1000 from panchayath fund. But our people will be more focused it and they will eat and leave the place. But this time it should not happen like that. For that people like should take responsibility. Lakshmi: Brother.. Thanks for sharing this. Now you will show that we will not nod our head for whatever they say. We will prove that we are human beings with 6th sense. Silvanus: Very good!!! You said it beautifully. My dear friends participate in tomorrow’s gram sabha in your area and observe what all we said are happening or not. If its not happening be brave and question them. Prove them that you will no more nod your head for anything and they can’t fool you anymore. Make use of your rights properly.

Parents should teach boy children about how to be respectful with others and especially with girls. Parents should be careful while talking. The way they talk will make think that the girl is inferior. Because of this thought, there will be problems in future. first thing the boy should be under control and second thing is parents should raise him in a proper way. Thirdly, the community and media should stop portraying woman as a sex object. The child should be raised with full safety, never leave them alone. When both parents are forced to go to work we should try forcing the government to bring safety measures for our kids. Maybe in future, the government can bring safety measures.

Mostly the most innocent looking, spiritual looking men are seen to be involved in child abuse. And guys who are socially involving with others face many women and they usually will be committed to one person and will avoid such things. Those who cannot mingle with same age women will search for people who are very younger to them so that they can show their lust on them. So we should be careful with the one who is usually quiet. We cannot just suspect on young people. There are many old aged people, doctors, church priest, teachers are seen doing such sexual abuse with kids. We cannot say or find out which man is a good person and who is bad person. SO we are forced to see the entire men community in a suspicious manner and be careful with them. Parents of boy children have major role to play for the society. Earlier we use see girl children are getting adviced to sit in the proper way, talk properly etc. In the present situation, a boy should be raised properly. Parents are found giving importance for the happiness of kids, education and for their achievements. They usually say, let them get whatever I didnt get. But they forget to teach them basic discipline, sharing habit, other good habits.

Information On Child Abuse: Dont leave your children alone or under someone else. Don't leave your daughters' unattended thinking that they are playing with neighbours kids. Even though it is very lame to say it openly but every mother should remember that every man is a potential rapist. So avoid leaving your kids alone. We are forced to teach our kids to avoid going to houses where a boy/man is alone. Even the person is very friendly and known person teach them to avoid going to such houses. The society is becoming worse day by day. So 1st thing parent should be matured. 2nd educate your children on what to do if mother and father are not at the house. And keep reminding them about it. 3rd have the mentality of treating all children as your own children. And be responsible and be human. And definitely men should have control on them.

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Sathish: If many people join together it is called a union. If different workers join together it is labour's union. Believing on unity is strength concept, many unions joined together and brought many movements. These unions play major role in bringing 44 state-level laws. Especially in bringing laws related to ESI and PF union plays a vital role. TTCU state consultant Mr. James Victor is here to tell more about one law which was welcomed by worldwide. James: In the history of labour unions, of the most important movement which gathered the attention worldwide is Bonus Act. Any production company, service company or income generation company, it should give one part of production to the workers. That's not wrong. If you see in villages, the workers after completing their work they get their salary and also as a compliment they get vegetables or rice. Especially during Pongal season, they get paddy as remuneration. There was a time when workers used to get only salary and nothing else. Only few companies used to give some amount as bonus but that depends upon the employer. He may give 2%, 10% or 20%. there were no laws related to this. Many unions fought against this. During that period with the help of ILO convention few recommendations were made. After that bonus Act was introduced. This law says, if a labour works for more than 6 months he should get 1 month salary, that 8.33% as bonus. This was the result of continuous protest. Government negotiated and came to a conclusion that at least 8.33% bonus should be given. This is a common law which is applicable for all companies. Sathish: Dear audience we believe that you realised the power of the union. Unions have struggled to bring many laws and many amendments. We believe that now you have understood that unions are great examples for Unity is strength.

How to approach TTCU if you are facing any problem: Any information shared with TTCU, we make sure that the confidentiality about the person is maintained. So anybody can approach us without any hesitation or fear. We are divided into small groups in each villages. But if you want to approach us directly, we have our main office in Nattham road, Thalukapatti cross, backside CSI church. Any time you can come and meet us. We do have a suggestion box for those who are coming when nobody is available, you can write your problem and drop inside that box. In TTCU it is not necessary that you need to come personally and tell your problem. Gram vani platform has provided a toll free number 9266617777. Without spending any money you can tell your problem. You just have to call this number, automatically the call will be cut. You will get automated call. By pressing 3 you can tell your problem or suggestions. The head will verify the authenticity of the problem and take necessary actions against it. At any cost the name of the person will not be disclosed. Fully it will be taken care by TTCU. We are getting many complaints in this forum.

I am Indira. Due to my family situation, I stopped going to school. I studied till 9th std after that I was going to mill for work. My parents were searching groom for my marriage. Boys side relatives came to see me, but I was against child marriage and I learnt about it by participating in many meetings. I also told them that I will report Gram vaani regarding the child marriage. They ran back to their house saying the girl is very clever and bold. We dont want this alliance. I am thankful to Gram vaani.

Lakshmi: This entire month we were listening about trade union. To tell about roles and function of trade union we have TTCU state consultant Mr James Victor James: Normally trade unions works are related to rights and political. So only such unions are seen as rights-based unions. Unions work for the welfare, betterment and growth of worker and union. Unions should work towards their goals on which they have started it. When we work for a union we cannot demand things only for our members. Our demand and work is for all worker. No matter whether they are workers or not. Union's duty is it to smoothen the relationship. another duty is to handle the problems which workers are facing in the companies. And they do have work related to law department. When a worker's problem is beyond the control we should take help of law for that. Another duty is, when a worker meets with any accidents during work, the union should talk to company authorities and solve the problem. Union members should note that whether the worker has planned for his retirement benefit like PF and pension. And also check whether the worker has got registered in all these from the beginning of his work. Union members should also fight if any of their colleagues has any problem or if government increases any costs the members should fight on behalf of general public or if a famer faces any problem voicing for it. etc.

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