A slew of events marked International Women’s Day celebrations in the city on Friday, with a number of organisations holding talks on women’s issues and taking initiatives to roll out programmes for women.
Keeping in tune with the United Nations’ theme to end violence against women, social organisations like the Joint Women’s Forum organised a meet to address the issue of women’s safety. K. Babu, Minister for Excise, Ports and Fisheries, inaugurated the event. Veteran journalist Leela Menon was honoured on the occasion.
Inaugurating the community policy initiative at Chottanikkara police station near here, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said there would be no delay in inquiries on cases registered for crimes against women. The force has been geared to handle these cases, as was evident from the efficacy with which the case relating to the rape of a three-year-old has been cracked, he said.
Kerala State Legal Services Authority in association with Kerala Federation of Women Lawyers organised a seminar on Social Cultural and Legal Reforms for Protecting Women. Chief Justice, High Court of Kerala, Manjula Chellur, inaugurated the function. K. K. Usha, former Chief Justice, Kerala High Court, gave the keynote address. Women lawyers also presented a skit on the occasion. The Southern Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation organised a seminar on women’s health and women’s contribution to family, work and community.
A mid-life clinic for women was opened at Lakeshore Hospital. In association with Ernakulam Press Club, oncology and gynaecology surgeon K. Chitrathara addressed women in the media. She stressed on the need for an annual health screening of women in their 40s.
Ernakulam Karayogam and People’s Council for Social Justice jointly held programmes, honouring women in various walks of like. Dr M. R. Rangamani, project coordinator at Palluruthy Relief Settlement, working for destitute and mentally ill persons, Prof. Pauline rose Mathai, former principal, Government Law College, who is involved in taking up an activist role in various legal and human rights issues, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Menon involved in suicide prevention programmes and four women in the media were honoured.
Women’s Day celebrations of the women’s wing of the Save Kerala Movement and the Vanitha Kshema Samithi was organised at Changampuzha Park. The programme was inaugurated by M. Leelavathi. A class on ‘Laws concerning women and children’ by advocate Teena Cherian was organised at the Udayamperoor Free Rural Public Library hall. The class was organised by Sarada Krishna Iyer Sadgamaya Centre for Women’s Empowerment in association with the District Legal Services Authority and the Udayamperoor police.
