International Women’s’ day-2011 "Intellectually, mentally, and spiritually, woman is equivalent to a male." Gandhi

Mrs.Santa Sheela Nair, a senior civil officer served at various capacities in Government of Tamilnadu and Government of India said' She respects women and those work for women development and empowerment'.Santha sheela Nair was greeted by thousands of women when she visited Trichy on 19th February,2011 and most women recollected her good work as role model District Collector of Trichy in early eighties having focused  work for women kind especially in sanitation promotion.  International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. India is the original home of the Mother Goddess. In our ancient history, we have many instances of women scholars and women rulers who have taken lives of people to next level. Stories from mythology and folklore are recounted to prove that women in India have always been honored and respected. We are proud of the fact that India was one of the first countries in the world to give women the right to vote. The Indian Constitution is one of the most progressive in the world, and guarantees equal rights for men and women. All this is cited as evidence to support the contention that Indian women are free and equal members of society. The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women. India has a long history of activism for women's welfare and rights. A range of government programmes have been launched to increase economic opportunity for women, although there appear to be no existing programmes to address the cultural and traditional discrimination against women. Be it education, health care, nutrition, property rights, acknowledgment of labour or life security, women find themselves at the lower rungs of the ladder. The socio-psychological makeup of most rural and many urban women has been shaped and moulded by more than a century of patriarchal beliefs and a family system. This is part of the clichéd vicious circle of illiteracy and social backwardness that accounts for all the resultant backwardness of the gender. Unless social activism groups take these factors into consideration and delve deeper into the social realm of this problem, there is little that can be done. Over the years, United Nations action for the advancement of women has taken four clear directions: promotion of legal measures; mobilization of public opinion and international action; training and research, including the compilation of gender desegregated statistics; and direct assistance to disadvantaged groups. Today a central organizing principle of the work of the United Nations is that no enduring solution to society's most threatening social, economic and political problems can be found without the full participation, and the full empowerment, of the world's women. Rural women, mainly farmers, are at least 1.6 billion and represent more than a quarter of the total world population.  Women produce on average more than half of all the food that is grown: up to 8O per cent in Africa, 6O per cent in Asia, between 3O and 4O per cent in Latin America and Western countries.  Women own only 2 per cent of the land, and receive only one per cent of all agricultural credit.  Only 5 per cent of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women.  Women represent two third of all illiterate people.  The number of rural women living in poverty has doubled since 197O. Globally, women produce more than half the food that is grown and are primarily responsible for preparing, storing and processing food. In many countries, however, women are the last family members to eat, and their nutritional needs are met only when and if the men and children have had enough. Of the total burden of paid and unpaid work, women bear an average of 53% in developing countries. The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality.

The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. 

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, and government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, thematic performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. So make a difference, think globally and act locally!! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. Santha sheela Nair said' We cannot forget the contribution of by Tamil film Director Bharathi Raja who had guts to venture into a thematic movie namely ‘Karuthamma’ in 1994. He has brought the reality all over the globe in Karuthamma, a story of female infanticide. Those days in some areas female infanticide was prevalent. Directed by Bharathi Raja this movie was to create awareness about how bad it is for the society and the family to kill female child .The director showcased the happenings in and around Theni, Cumbum and other places where this was prevalent. Karuthamma is the heroine who almost died as an infant but was saved, which her father was unaware. Finally she is the one who saves the family. Bharathi Raja   had a goal to achieve to eradicate female infanticide. Karuthamma had a moral. Karuthamma proved that there is much more to Bharathiraja than just those epic love stories made in village milieu. Taking in his hands the issue of female infanticide, Bharathiraja presented the poignant tale of a female child who was to be slain as soon as she was born. Besides, he did not fail to pose a question in the end of the movie; serving his part in making the viewer socially conscious' Now new slogan started ‘Penn ‘Karuvai Kaapom’, yes we take this pledge this decade and work for ever for our women kind development in all spheres of life.-Etram News Service.