Women’s Day celebrations: ‘Utilise 50 pc quota in civic bodies’

In the women’s day function held at AIADMK headquarters at Royapettah, a mega function headed by Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK Convenor O Panneerselvam was conducted. Various welfare benefits were distributed to close to 2,000 women in the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Panneerselvam praised the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa for providing reservation for women. “For political empowerment of women, Jayalalithaa has provided 50 per cent reservation in all the local body elections. In the upcoming elections for the Corporations, Municipalities and town panchayats you (women) are legally eligible for 50 per cent reservation and you should avail the benefits,” said Panneerselvam.

Following the lines of Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam also revealed a story on women self-confidence. Earlier in the day, Panneerselvam garlanded the statues of former chief ministers MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa.

At the Women’s day function organized by the state government, legendary Tamil poet Avvaiyar was honoured. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and Minister for Social Welfare V Saroja garlanded the statue of Avvaiyar.

Addressing reporters, Jayakumar said that due to 50 per cent reservation for women granted by Jayalalithaa more than 75,000 women have chances of getting elected as representatives for various local bodies in the state.

Jayakumar also said that women are safe in the state. “As Mahatma Gandhi said the real independence is when a woman can walk in the midnight with all their jewels. A similar situation prevails in the state where women feel free,” said Jayakumar.

He added that during the rule of Jayalalithaa many new initiatives were implemented for the uplift of women. “During the rule of Jayalalithaa in 1991 there was no reservation for women, but Jayalalithaa provided 30 seats for women. That was the highest number of seats given for women during any previous rule,” recalled Jayakumar.

Similarly, during the rule of Jayalalithaa first all women police stations, women commando force and women self-help groups for economic empowerment of women were implemented, said Jayakumar.

Speaking on the occasion, Saroja said that when Jayalalithaa became chief minister for the first time, Girl Child Protection Scheme and Cradle Baby scheme were implemented. “A total of 5,973 girl children were saved from death under Cradle Baby Scheme and 9.75 lakh girl children have benefited from Girl Child Protection scheme,” she said.