In 1979, a group of students and teachers founded Pennurimai Iyakkam as a movement to help underprivileged women secure justice. Today, it is one of Chennai’s best-known women’s groups and at the forefront of the fight for women’s rights with a membership base in thousands.
Counseling and dialogue, agitation and legal remedies are Pennurimai Iyakkam’s three-phase strategy for empowering women. The organisation strives to bring about social change by fighting for women’s rights; conducting campaigns and demonstrations to protest against discrimination/ violence against women; providing counseling facilities for oppressed women; and facilitating access to legal recourse.
A key component of its struggle for women’s rights includes efforts to secure basic rights and services for women living in slums such as housing, water and health.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising Pennurimai Iyakkam’s work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
Showing posts with label citation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label citation. Show all posts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Celebrating Defenders of Women's Rights: Citations: FORWORD
Forum for Women’s Rights and Development (FORWORD) was started by Shiamala Baby in 1992, to help women reclaim their sense of identity and dignity. The founder of FORWORD, Shiamala Baby, herself survived domestic violence and has dedicated her life to help other women fight for their rights.
FORWORD works for a holistic, ‘abundant’ life for women. They provide informal education for women, life skills education programmes which are open to men and women and also conduct general awareness programs on the equality of women. FORWORD also provides counseling, undertakes advocacy and conducts regular seminars and workshops on domestic violence.
FORWORD provides informal education through coaching classes for children of disadvantaged women. Through these sessions, they impart a sense of ecological responsibility and social justice.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising FORWORD’s work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
FORWORD works for a holistic, ‘abundant’ life for women. They provide informal education for women, life skills education programmes which are open to men and women and also conduct general awareness programs on the equality of women. FORWORD also provides counseling, undertakes advocacy and conducts regular seminars and workshops on domestic violence.
FORWORD provides informal education through coaching classes for children of disadvantaged women. Through these sessions, they impart a sense of ecological responsibility and social justice.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising FORWORD’s work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
Celebrating Defenders of Women's Rights: Citations: FASA
A case of sexual harassment in a Chennai educational institution motivated Sarah Matthew to establish FASA, as the Feminist Association for Social Action is better-known.
FASA is primarily an advocacy organisation. In its early years, FASA was active in mobilising public opinion on the issue of sexual harassment and initiating efforts to bring about transformation in legal provisions on domestic violence.
FASA continues to organise workshops to educate women on their legal options, especially in cases of domestic violence and sexual harassment. They offer advice on how to access information and take legal recourse.
In addition, FASA provides vocational training to rural women to help them augment their incomes. FASA also reaches out to young women in rural areas through the ‘Selvi’ project for personality development.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising FASA’s work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
FASA is primarily an advocacy organisation. In its early years, FASA was active in mobilising public opinion on the issue of sexual harassment and initiating efforts to bring about transformation in legal provisions on domestic violence.
FASA continues to organise workshops to educate women on their legal options, especially in cases of domestic violence and sexual harassment. They offer advice on how to access information and take legal recourse.
In addition, FASA provides vocational training to rural women to help them augment their incomes. FASA also reaches out to young women in rural areas through the ‘Selvi’ project for personality development.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising FASA’s work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
Celebrating Defenders of Women's Rights: Citations: CWDR
Centre for Women’s Development and Research (CWDR) was started in 1993 by three women activists who felt the need for a platform to help address the problems of women in the unorganised sector.
What started out as an organization working in five Thiruvanmiyur slums to impart human rights training has gradually grown into the voice of numerous women domestic workers across Chennai.
‘Manushi’ and ‘Snehidhi’ are CWDR’s initiatives for women domestic workers and adolescent girls in slums. These initiatives offer counselling, leadership training, awareness of gender issues, education and training in life skills. Improving the lives of single women is a significant element of CWDR’s agenda.
Advocacy and lobbying with the government form a large component of CWDR’s work. They also impart leadership training to women in panchayats and ward members. CWDR has been pivotal in getting domestic workers appointed to the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Board.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising CWDR for its work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
What started out as an organization working in five Thiruvanmiyur slums to impart human rights training has gradually grown into the voice of numerous women domestic workers across Chennai.
‘Manushi’ and ‘Snehidhi’ are CWDR’s initiatives for women domestic workers and adolescent girls in slums. These initiatives offer counselling, leadership training, awareness of gender issues, education and training in life skills. Improving the lives of single women is a significant element of CWDR’s agenda.
Advocacy and lobbying with the government form a large component of CWDR’s work. They also impart leadership training to women in panchayats and ward members. CWDR has been pivotal in getting domestic workers appointed to the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Board.
On the occasion of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 2009, The Prajnya Trust takes great pride in recognising CWDR for its work for social justice and women’s human rights.
Chennai
November 27, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Day Three: Singing Freedom, Celebrating Human Rights Defenders, with Sowmya
We approached eminent Carnatic vocalist, S.Sowmya, to be a part of our campaign with trepidation, preparing for a 'no'. What we got was a very warm and enthusiastic, "It would be a privilege." At that moment, we knew this was going to be an evening that we would all remember for a long time.
Then right on schedule at a little past 6:30, S.Sowmya and her team settled down to sing. B.U. Ganesh Prasad accompanied Sowmya on the violin and Neyveli Narayanan on the mridangam. Two very young students of Sowmya sat with them to offer vocal support.
Sowmya had given a great deal of thought to what she would perform at this concert. She chose to sing kritis in Devi's honour, compositions by female composers and songs by Subramaniam Bharati. Every song was sung from the heart and found a place in the hearts of the audience. Sowmya's virtuosity needs no certificate from Prajnya, but listening to her on Friday, this blogger was left marveling at her ability to sing pretty much up and down three octaves. Her 'keezh sthai' (lower) notes were as clear and precise as her 'mel sthai' (higher) ones, and her breath control would be a great advertisement for pranayama and the sadhana that hones talent to ever-greater perfection.
Neyveli Narayanan and B.U. Ganesh Prasad brought the same spirit, warmth and perfection to their playing, and the result was a kacheri that rasikas present would remember during the coming Margazhi season and compare favourably to others they attend.
The honorees were touched by the kacheri and the musicians' spirit and the evening, we believe, was truly special for them.
PS: At this programme venue as at others, our Collaborative Cooking paanai drew attention and suggestions which will be posted online at the wiki.
The show began with a small celebration of the work of four Chennai organisations that have made a material difference to many, many women's lives through their human rights work; through their domestic violence and legal awareness campaigns; through life-skills and other educational programmes; and through their work to mobilise and organise women whose voices may never otherwise be heard. These four organisations, in alphabetical order, are: Centre for Women's Development and Research (CWDR), Feminist Association for Social Action (FASA), Forum for Women's Rights and Development (FORWORD) and Pennurimai Iyakkam. Following a short presentation about their work, they presented each other with a citation and a small Lakshmi tulasi plant on behalf of Prajnya. We will post the citation texts separately.
Sowmya had given a great deal of thought to what she would perform at this concert. She chose to sing kritis in Devi's honour, compositions by female composers and songs by Subramaniam Bharati. Every song was sung from the heart and found a place in the hearts of the audience. Sowmya's virtuosity needs no certificate from Prajnya, but listening to her on Friday, this blogger was left marveling at her ability to sing pretty much up and down three octaves. Her 'keezh sthai' (lower) notes were as clear and precise as her 'mel sthai' (higher) ones, and her breath control would be a great advertisement for pranayama and the sadhana that hones talent to ever-greater perfection.
Neyveli Narayanan and B.U. Ganesh Prasad brought the same spirit, warmth and perfection to their playing, and the result was a kacheri that rasikas present would remember during the coming Margazhi season and compare favourably to others they attend.
The honorees were touched by the kacheri and the musicians' spirit and the evening, we believe, was truly special for them.As for us at Prajnya, we were deeply moved that something we barely thought feasible had happened in such a wonderful way, and that we were able to give something back to people from our community that had worked so hard for others.
All in all, it was a very special evening and we will all carry memories of it in our hearts.
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