Date:25/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/25/stories/2005072514910700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Representation of women "vital in all fields"

Staff Reporter

District Governor says Lions Clubs distributed Rs. 25 crores for building houses

MADURAI: Women have a major role to play in the country's growth and their representation is vital in all fields, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, said here on Sunday.

At the 16th district cabinet installation ceremony of Lions Clubs International District 324-B3, he expressed happiness that one of its past Governors was a woman. Women performed better in the common admission test of the Asian College of Journalism, securing 77 of the 112 seats, he said.

Despite growth in several fields, the needs of the deprived masses were yet to be addressed. "Over 300 to 350 million people are still living below poverty line." Lauding the efforts of the Lions Clubs in serving the needy, Mr. Ram said India ranked among the top nations providing basic amenities to the people. However, the country lacked all-round development, as it could not leapfrog from the present state of agricultural economy to the state of knowledge economy.

Lack of all-round development

The emergence of software information technology sector put the country on the path of economic growth. While India could claim to be a software superpower and was making good progress in the field of biotechnology, all-round development was lacking, he said.

Mr. Ram emphasised the need for commitment to equality and principle. "Patriotism has no meaning unless you recognise plurality." Compared to other developing countries, India was in an enviable position as far as freedom of speech and expression was concerned, he said.

Expressing satisfaction over the solidarity of the Press, which rose to the occasion whenever there was a major challenge, he said media too had many weaknesses such as sensationalism, tabloidisation and misrepresentation. But then, the Indian media, which was 200 years old, had played a sterling role all through. "It has brought to fore information, which otherwise would have been suppressed."

Earlier, S. Murugesamurthy, District Governor, described the rehabilitation works undertaken by the Lions Clubs in the tsunami-hit areas. The clubs distributed Rs. 25 crores for construction of 50 houses at each of the 10 different locations identified.