To commemorate the International Women’s Day on March 8, a meet to discuss violence against woman was organised by the Southern District Women’s Federation (SDWF) here on Tuesday.
Rajni, advocate and organiser of SDWF, said that the objective of the meet was to provide a platform to the women from the marginalised sections to voice their struggles against oppression in their everyday life. She expressed that it was disheartening to note that the Justice Verma Committee had not mentioned about violence against women on the basis of their caste.
V.Vasanthi Devi, former chairperson of State Commission for Women, pointed out that atrocities against women were three tiered — on the basis of caste, patriarchy, and class. In the case of Dalit women, they were victims of multiple forms of oppression, she said.
Ramani from Naikkankottai in Dharmapuri, a victim of the recent incident of caste atrocity, said that they suffered so much owing to mental trauma after witnessing the violence. It was an attempt to destroy our upward mobility in terms of education and employment, she said while narrating the series of incidents.
Other speakers said that the government should implement stringent laws against honour killings and sexual assaults “which are increasing day by day.” Participants representing Adi Tamizhar Peravai and Arunthamizhar Viduthalai Iyakkam also shared their views on violence against women.
