Date:03/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/03/stories/2007040318440400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Women's education `is the key'

Staff Reporter

TAMBARAM : Speakers at a national conference on `role of women for India ahead' on Monday underlined the importance of women's education.

Addressing the conference, organised by SRM University in Potheri, Kattankulathur near here, the speakers, including poet Kanimozhi, called for a rightful place for women in society and country.

Ms. Kanimozhi said education of women could be the biggest protection. Pointing to the high literacy levels in Kerala, she said it was very important to teach women about their rights. "Do not deny what we deserve only because we are women," she remarked, adding that women had to be taught about provisions in the Constitution.

Chinnapillai of Madurai, who shot into the limelight when former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee fell at her feet while awarding the `Mata Jijabai Stree Puraskar' for her contribution to women self help groups, said students had to work towards a society free from the twin evils of dowry and liquor. Male students should tell their parents not to insist on dowry at the time of their marriage, which would help to a great extent.

SRM University vice chancellor P. Sathyanarayanan said women had to play a greater role if India had to become the fourth largest economy of the world by 2020.