Social activist receives lifetime achievement award

Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr K Rosaiah presented a Lifetime Achievement award to social activist Dr Sarojini Varadappan here on Tuesday at the Annual Day Celebrations of the Women’s Voluntary Service of Tamil Nadu.

Speaking at the event, Governor Rosaiah said, “Women is the home and home is the basis of society. To make the home an ideal one empowering of women is vital. Empowerment of women leads to development of a home, society, the State, nation and the world as a whole.”  He added that Voluntary Service Organisations should play a pivotal role in this empowerment.

“Improved access to education, making girl children of rural villages in particular to take to education and to check dropouts of girl students at higher education level are needed. Extending all help, creation of awareness on the need of educating women in rural areas, preparing women to meet the challenges and to equip them to compete globally are the need of the hour,” said Rosaiah.

Applauding the work that the Women’s Voluntary Service of Tamil Nadu is doing, he said, “It is heartening to know that the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, was the Director General of All India Women’s Voluntary Service and she had inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Branch at Chennai in May 1972. I am pleased to learn that this voluntary organisation has now spread its wings throughout the country.” The Governor also distributed uniforms to destitute children, prizes to winners of a fancy dress competition, scholarships to college students, financial assistance to destitute women and aids and appliances to differently-abled persons.

Dr A M Swaminathan, Former Finance Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and  Kamala Parasuram, Vice President, Mylapore Academy, Chennai were also present at the function.