Case8-March-2014
‘In India on an average 31 percent of women go missing. About 44.5 percent of women gets married before proper age and 53 percent of women were subjected to domestic violence in one form or other. In families were the husband is an alcohol addict, the incidence of violence is more apart from the fact that the family income gets drained’ spoke Ms.Shanthi Maduresan, CEO, Kalanjiam Mutual Movement on the occasion of Women’s Day Celebration held at DHAN Foundation. “There is a direct relationship between alcoholism and domestic violence and women should join hands together to protect themselves against” such evil she added
The women’s day celebration was held by Kalanjiam Mutual Movement at the premises of DHAN Foundation on 8th March, 2014. The event had the participation of more than 300 Kalanjiam members and leaders. The focus of the event was “Prevention of discrimination and violence against women from Birth to Death” and to create a ‘Alcohol free society’. During the forenoon session Kalanjiam members shared the experience and benefits they gained through Micro credit and Micro justice, which was followed by a sub group discussion on the topic ‘From Birth to Death - Issues faced by women and means to overcome’.. Ms.Jayalakshmi, Journalist in her special address highlighted the contemporary issues faced by women and said that women still have to go a long way to attain the status of equality. This was followed by another subgroup discussion on ‘Duties, responsibilities and rights of women in different life stages’ by the Kalanjiam members. The members came out with some resolutions for creating alcohol free families across the Kalanjiam federations, cooperating and facilitating the state and central government to enact policy’s to protect women and strengthen the existing policy’s, creating awareness on domestic violence and existing laws in force for protecting women etc., were passed during the meeting.
The afternoon session had the focus on creating a alcohol free society. The session was anchored by Mr., Rajapandian, CEO, Suham Trust who made a presentation about ‘ILL Effects of Alcohol’. An awareness song on the issue was sung by Ms.Meena, Vice President, Kalanjiam Mutual Movement followed by a drama on the theme again by Kalanjiam members. Mr.Ravichandran, Suvasam Deaddiction and Treatment center gave a special lecture on the treatment of alcohol addiction and how to handle the persons addicted to alcohol.
A short film ‘Ammu’ directed by Mr.Gideon Karthick depicting the exploitation of women and another short film on women empowerment produced by ‘Ektha Foundation’ was screened during the event.
The highlight of the event was the release of a booklet on “From birth to death - issues faced by women and means to overcome” by Mr.M.P.Vasimalai, Executive Director, DHAN Foundation. The book was received by the Smt. Chinnapillai and other Kalanjiam Leaders. The event had a colorful finish with a balloons released by the Kalanjiam women shouting slogans “Let’s awake and Let’s liberate’. Ms.V.K.Padmavathi, CEO, Kalanjiam Foundation delivered the vote of thanks.
Women’s day celebrations were also organized by Madurai rural, Madurai urban, Tanjore, Salem, Kachipuram and other regions under the Kalanjiam programme.
Women’s day celebrations were held across eight locations under Madurai Urban and also organized at regional level. At locations, during the group meeting held during the month of March, 2014, discussions were held regarding protection of women against domestic violence and creating alcohol free society and resolutions were passed for the same. Leaflets to create awareness on domestic violence and creating an alcohol free society were distributed to Kalanjiam members and general public. At regional level, a meeting was organized at DHAN People Academy during which all field associates participated. The field associates were asked to share about the women achievers who impressed them most and reasons for the same. Apart from this, essay, elocution and drawing competition were held on the topic ‘Women empowerment and growing leadership’ and “Liberation of women’ in which the field staffs participated actively.
Women’s day celebration was celebrated by Madurai rural region at Melur, Madurai in which 136 field associates from 12 locations participated. In the meeting issues faced by women like domestic violence, dowry harassment and the effect on alcoholism on families and society were discussed. Also the laws in force to protect women and how to avail legal protection through the micro justice centre’s established in Kalanjiam locations were discussed. Various competitions were held for the field associates, which provided them an opportunity to exhibit their talents. Drawing, essay and musical chair competitions were held. The block integrators of the locations and the regional coordinator Ms. Rajalakhsmi were present during the event.
The International women’s day celebration was held by Tanjore region on 8th March,2014 at Thangappa Udaiyanpatti village, Tanjore, in which the local villagers and Kalanjiam members participated in large numbers. The Kalanjiam women participated enthusiastically in musical chair, bucketing the ball and millet recipe competition held during the start of the event. After this the Kalanjiam members were asked to share about their growth and empowerment after joining Kalanjiam. The members shared about the livelihood enhancement, educational support and the opportunities provided by Kalanjiam to shape and empower them as good leaders. Later there was a discussion on domestic violence and the menace created due to alcoholism in families. The members expressed concern over the fact that large number of youth get addicted to alcohol even at a tender age and leakage of family income because of this habit. Resolutions were passed by women to protect themselves against domestic violence and for creating a alcohol free society.