AIDWA seeks a better deal for women

Better transport and health facilities for women workers in Tirupur knitwear cluster, a skill development centre for women, and social security for the poor were the put forward at the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) 13th Tiruppur district conference held on Sunday.

CPI (M) central committee member and AIDWA state general secretary U. Vasuki said the district administration should take immediate steps to run more public transport buses exclusively for women during peak hours, as feedback obtained from the public indicated that women workers were subjected to sexual harassment in overcrowded buses on many occasions.

She went on to stress the need for better infrastructure in the District Headquarters hospital here, especially in the maternity and neo natal wards, as staff shortage had been preventing people from getting speedy and quality treatment.

“The pharmacy at the institution does not have adequate medicine, forcing the women coming from economically weaker section of the society, to purchase costly drugs from outside,” she said.

The meeting also passed a resolution condemning alleged wide-scale corruption in the District Headquarters hospital. “Though it has been widely claimed that the medical care at the said hospital is free, many patients end up spending from their pockets, as staff demand money from patients for various services,” Ms. Vasuki said.

The conference asked the district administration to set up an exclusive skill development centre for women to help them hone their entrepreneurial talents.

Another issue raised by the AIDWA was the need to set up more government high schools in Tirupur city.

Ms.Vasuki criticised the methodology of the Union Planning Commission that sets a ceiling for allocation of funds to the states for below poverty line (BPL) people.

“We are of the opinion that all BPL people should get the social security benefits without any discrimination,” she said, adding that there should a fresh enumeration of BPL people carried out in a transparent manner.

The AIDWA state president N. Amritham, state secretary P. Suganthi and district secretary G. Savithri, spoke.