Women’s meet sheds light on water crisis

Janapada Academy Chairman says water struggle could gain more focus if women stay in the forefront of movement

The International Women’s Day programme in Kolar on Sunday turned out to be a convention highlighting the acute water shortage in the region and how women were troubled with the issue.

Hundreds of women participated in a convention organised on Sunday and took a pledge to pitch in for the struggle in carrying forward irrigation projects for the perennially drought hit region. The convention underlined the permanent irrigation project based on G.S. Paramashivaiah Report that could be a long lasting solution for the water crisis in Bayaluseeme region, including Kolar.

The convention was organised jointly by the Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, unions of anganawadi, ASHA and mid-day meal workers at the Government Pre-University College premises.

Speaking as chief guest, CITU leader S. Varalakshmi underlined the need for unity among women in order to fight against social and economic discriminations. “Communalism was the hurdle for progress of women”, she said.

JMS State president V. Geetha urged women in the district to join hands in strengthening the movement for water. She criticised people’s representatives for their lack of commitment to bring water to the parched region.

“The struggle for water will meet success only when women folk take up the cause and stay in the forefront of the movement for water”, Karntaka Janapada Academy chairman Pichchalli Srinivas said.

Zilla panchayat president Rathnamma and CITU district unit president Gandhinagar Narayanaswamy spoke.