Lady Doak College, began its annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence with a powerful inaugural program that called for building a world for women to live freely and safely.
It was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Sivagnanam of Madras High Court, with Deputy Commissioner of Police – Ms. S. Vanitha and Senior Advocate, Madras High Court, Madurai Bench, Mr. K. Samidurai, in the presence of Principal & Secretary, Dr. Beulah Jeyashree R, Vice Principal, Dr. Nimma Elizabeth, Bursar, Dr. Vanitha Malarvizhi, Chaplain, Dr. Jesse Ranjitha Jebaselvi and all administrative officers, students & faculty members. The College was honoured with the online presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Manikumar, Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission who commended Lady Doak College for the institution of the Justice K Swamidurai prize for the best outgoing student of UG/PG who has supported her peers to address crimes on women.
Dr. Beulah Jeyashree R in her opening address, emphasized that we were gathered to send a message that we will not stand by as women are continually silenced by violence and that we must not tolerate a world where abuse is normalized, and fear disrupts daily life, depriving women of their agency.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sivagnanam, eloquently highlighted that as students, as women, we are a part of a society which often pushes us to undertake our journeys that have no pathways and the knowledge we gain is our core strength when it is directed towards the attainment of the larger goodness of life. Violence, abuse and misuse has been normalized with discrimination and manifests in every human relationship. He especially called upon students to believe in oneself and be comfortable the way we are and not be overpowered with the external influences of ‘glamour’.
Deputy Commissioner of Police – Ms. S. Vanitha, reached out to students to learn to take the right decisions without the influence of others, and to overcome experiences of abuse, by taking action. She recounted a case story where a fourteen-year-old who was abused had visited the police station by herself to file a complaint, which resulted in a strong conviction of the perpetrator. She further pointed out that Lady Doak College is an institution in Madurai, which can legally address complaints of different forms of crimes on women. Advocate Samidurai, recalled how the students cabinet of Lady Doak College in 2015, had represented to the District Collector to prevent the opening of a bar in a mall as it was surrounded by educational institutions, and a student had represented to him to obtain compensation for an acid attack survivor in Madurai, among various other such initiatives to respond by students of the College. It is in this backdrop that he felt the need to further invest in such actions, through the institution of the Hon’ble Justice K Swamidurai prize.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Manikumar, Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission in his online address, appreciated the institution for initiating this prize as a measure of investing in the prevention of violence on women.
Dr. Nimma Elizabeth in her introductions of the special guests specifically highlighted how Mr. Justice V. Sivagnanam, Mr. Justice Manikumar, DCP Vanitha S and Advocate Samidurai have engaged with addressing the various forms of crimes on women in their professions.
Dr. Vanitha Malarvizhi, proposed a resounding vote of thanks in which she highlighted that knowledge and awareness are key to overcoming violence and empowerment.