The Hindu : `Women can achieve anything'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Women can achieve anything'

By Our Staff Reporter

The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, greeting a girl after handing over to her parents, a cheque under a child welfare scheme, at a function at Tiruvarur on Saturday. - Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

Tiruvarur March 8. Celebrating "women power" on the International Women's Day today, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, declared that her taking over the reins of Tamil Nadu was proof of democracy remaining "alive and healthy" in the country.

"Women can achieve anything in the world if they have the will to do it. And, sky is the limit," she exhorted women, addressing a government function at Tiruvarur here on the third day of her visit to districts.

Citing her rise in politics, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she had become Chief Minister, though she had no support, nor did she belong to a family with political background or tradition. However, in contrast, other leaders such as Sirimavao Bandaranaike, Queen Elizabeth and Begum Khaleda Zia were either from royal families or close kin of political leaders. "But I am not belittling them by saying this. I am only trying to say that they could become leaders only because they were the wife of a President or the daughter of a Prime Minister... If I have become a leader with people's support, it shows that women can achieve anything".

Join SHGs

Stressing the importance of economic independence, the Chief Minister called upon all women in the State to become members of self-help groups. "This is the message I can give to women in Tamil Nadu on the world women's day".

She had sown the seed for the SHG concept in Tamil Nadu in 1992, and it grew into 1,18,413 groups now, comprising 20,20,793 members, with total savings of Rs. 266.22 cores.

"Gone are the days when women have to go to banks to get loans. Now banks are coming to the SHGs, asking them to invest their savings in their banks".

In Tiruvarur district alone there were 4,412 groups, consisting of 78,000 members, with their savings totalling up to Rs. 9.74 crores.

At the function, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for 1,564 works worth Rs. 26.43 crores, declared open 2,868 completed works costing Rs. 55.30 crores and distributed benefits to 5,881 persons in the district to the tune of Rs. 1.39 crores.

Dig at DMK chief

The Chief Minister did not fail to take a dig at her political rival and DMK chief, M. Karunanidhi, in his home district. The erstwhile ruler of Tiruvarur, Manuneedhi Cholan, put his son under his chariot and killed him when he came to know that his vehicle had run over a calf.

"Nowadays there are fathers who are not able to punish or warn their sons", she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said Tiruvarur district had potential for starting, besides rice mills, industries using salt and coir. Prawn farms could also be set up.

The Speaker, K. Kalimuthu; the Ministers, R. Jeevanandam, R. Vaithialingam and Valarmathi, and the MP, Kamaraj, spoke.

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