A woman is the centre around which the entire household revolves. Her emancipation, therefore, is most vital for the growth of home, society, State, nation and world as a whole. Thus addressing the audience, Dr. K. Rosiah, Tamil Nadu Governor, flagged off the annual day celebrations of the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) of Tamil Nadu, at Raj Bhavan on December 4.
Entering the 40 year of its existence, the registered voluntary non-profit, non-sectarian, welfare-oriented service organisation choose to felicitate its most celebrated and dedicated member, Dr. Sarojini Varadappan, Assistant Director, WVS.
Applauding Dr. Sarojini for her untiring work for the upliftment of women and calling her dedication to social welfare exemplary, Kamala Parasuram, vice-president, Mylapore Academy, said, “Despite her advancing age, Dr. Sarojini is still busy with the institutions she has nurtured and guided towards the path of growth.”
On the achievements of the organisation, she said WVS has been rendering service to the needy, especially women and children. She congratulated the members for their contribution in bringing women to the forefront of public life.
In her presidential address, Dr. Sarojini thanked the members and the guest for choosing her for the Life Time Achievement Award. She dedicated the success of the organisation to her entire staff. Giving a brief background about the organisation, she said it was started by the former Prime Minister, late Indira Gandhi, in 1972 to mobilise women to meet the emergencies of war and natural calamities. A WVS unit was set up in every State capital in the country.
The Prime Minister became the Director-General of All India Women’s Voluntary Service and the Governor’s wife was to be the Director of their State branch. Over the years, WVS dedicated itself to render welfare services for improving the living condition of needy women, children and the physically handicapped.
Highlighting the uniqueness of the Tamil Nadu unit, she said it is the only unit formally inaugurated by Ms. Gandhi herself. While other State units became defunct after the demise of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Tamil Nadu unit alone remained functional and has been able to render service to the community for four decades.
Calling WVC the foremost social service organisation working mainly in the urban areas of Tamil Nadu, A.M. Swaminathan, former Finance Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “In the coming decades the organisation should focus on skill development training to women and making them aware of their entitlements.”
Congratulating Dr. Sarojini on her achievements, he said she is probably the oldest social service worker having crossed the age of 90. Her work with the WVC and association with the Red Cross Society and the Indian Council for Child Welfare among others deserves a mention.
On the occasion, Dr. Rosaiah gave away scholarships to 150 college students amounting to Rs. 1.8 lakhs, uniforms to destitute children studying in two Government schools in Poonamallee and Triplicane, hearing aids, annual financial aid of Rs. 3,000 to three destitute women for self employment, and special prizes for children who participated in the fancy dress competition, which was conducted earlier.
K. Mahalakshmi, Honorary Treasurer, WVC, gave the vote of thanks.
