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CONVENTION AGAINST CASTE OPPRESSION AT TIRUVARUR BY

ALL INDIA INSURANCE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

ON VENMANI DAY

More than 700 insurance employees including 50 women participated the convention

organised by the All india insurance employees association (AIIEA) at Tiruvarur

on 25th December 2010, the VENMANI MARTYRS DAY.

Sri K JAKKAIYAN , Joint secretary of Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front

and General secretary of Arunthamizhar Iyakkam delivered key note address. He

impressed audience to wage united struggles against Hindutva and Brahminical

caste order which is the backbone of the caste system. He appreciated AIIEA

for its leading role in the movements against caste bias.

Smt S K Ponnuthai, General secretary, AIDWA, Madurai rural distrct who leads

the movement for dalit rights in Uthappuram, was honoured by the All india joint

secretary of AIIEA Sri J Gurumoorthy. She suffered severe injuries in the police attack on protestors in front of collectorate of Madurai. She expressed her determination to carry

forward the struggle and she thanked the cadres of AIIEA for having lent their

active support to the legal battle for dalits. She recalled the cadres of AIIEA

who spent several nights In Uthappuram and also for documentation for the

legal action. Smt N. Anandaselvi(SZIEF) presented memento to her.

Sri K. Ganesh, Coordinator, Dr Ambedkar guidance centre for Employment at

Coimbatore spoke about the coaching classes being conducted at the

the centre and he appealed AIIEA to start such centres in other cities also.

He proudly shared his experience and congratulated AIIEA for such initiatives.

He expressed his hope that other Trade unions also emulate the efforts of

AIIEA.

Sri K Swaminathan, General secretary, South Zone Insurance Employees Association

informed the house the activities carried out by the various divisional units in Tamil

nadu. In all divisions Dr Ambedkar death anniversary was observed as SOCIAL

JUSTICE DAY. In Tirunelveli 8 conventions have been conducted. Salem division

has taken initiative for screening of 4 shows of Dr Balasaheb Ambedkar film.

Such initiatives are taken in Chennai and Madurai also. He appreciated the Chennai LIC and

General insurance employees for having participated in the field survey on the plight

of urban dalits . Vellore divisional unit has involved significant number of its cadres

in fight for the demands of Gudiyatham dalit people. During his speech he announced

that Revenue authorities have broken the Untouchability Wall at Coimbatore which deny

pathway to adjacent dalit residents. This issue has been taken up by TNUEF. This

announcement drew thunderous applause from audience.

Sri M. Kunhikrishnan. President, SZIEF presided the convention. Sri N.Sureshkumar,

General secretary, ICEU, Madurai division also spoke. Sri R Punniamoorthy General

secretary, ICEU, Thanjavur divsion welcomed the gathering and Sri R Dharmalingam,

Vice President, SZIEF proposed vote of thanks.

1503 subscriptions were handed over to Sri Kubendran, Vice president of GIEA-SZ and

Convenor of TNUEF, Vellore district for new Quarterly magazine 'VENMANI' of TNUEF.

The convention paid homage to departed leader Com Pappa umanath who dedicated her whole life to the emancipation of downtrodden sections and led many struggles against oppression.

After the convention all the participants went to Venmani and paid homage to martyrs.