Trichy :
Most of the elected women representatives in local bodies are usually prevented from acting on their own by their male family members. Though the officials have issued warning against such practice, it still persists in many parts of Trichy and neighbouring districts. Nevertheless, some of the women break such barriers and act on their own. A group of elected women representatives from six districts of Dharmapuri, Tirupur, Madurai, Cuddalore, Erode and Pudukkottai converged at an event in Trichy on Thursday to share their successful stride in public life. Surprisingly, no woman representative from Trichy turned up for the meet. The women expressed satisfaction in serving the people on their own by not depending on their male family members.
T Pasupathi, the president of Pullaneri village panchayat in Madurai district told TOI, “The encouragement from my family was a key to contest in election and to succeed. But I never depend on my family members to execute my work as a president. I want the women to shine in their life equal to men. In my career as a president, I stopped four child marriages in our area. Further, my service for the welfare of the women would continue.”
The aim of Dhanuskodi Saivarasu, the president of Mangathevanpatti village panchayat in Pudukkottai district is to strive hard towards getting 50% reservation for women. She said, “After creating awareness, most of the elected women representatives are prevented by husbands, children and fathers. In my case, my husband is helpful and does not interfere in my work.”
The story of C Nagalakshmi is an example for many women how to strive hard in life without support from others. Nagalakshami, a deserted woman, having two children won the election for ward member in Uppiliyakudi village panchayat. She said, “Though my husband separated from me, I hope that I would succeed in my life. With support from our people, I won the election. Despite many hurdles from men, I still want to serve for the people.”
Even though some of the women are brave enough to struggle in public life, there are many cases in Trichy where the male family members of the elected local body women representatives take care of the official duties of the women. District collector Jayashree Muralidharan last year issued a circular to all local bodies warning against the practice. Nevertheless, it continues in Trichy, told an official of the panchayat department in Trichy.
It can be mentioned in the context that the Trichy district administration cancelled the cheque signing power of 13 village panchayat presidents under Section 203 of Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act 1994 on charges of alleged irregularities.
Surprisingly, most of the ‘punished’ presidents in Trichy are women. The officials say that the irregularities were done by their husbands or other members of their family.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by R. Gokul, TNN / April 19th, 2013
