People's Democracy

A Demeaning Fund Raising Show

Women Organisations’ Demand Apology

Nine leading women’s organisations in a letter to Renuka Prasad, the president, Cancer Sahyog (a unit of Indian Cancer Society) on October 14 have demanded a public apology from the society for the insult shown to breast cancer survivors and women in general in the demeaning fund raising programme held recently by it.

The signatories to the letter were - Brinda Karat, Kalindi Deshpande (AIDWA), Sahba Farooqui (National Federation of Indian Women), Veena Majumdar (CWDS), Jyotsna Chatterjee (Joint Women Programme), Mohini Giri (Guild of Services), Mary Khemchand (YWCA), Bulu Sareen (FORCES), Sarojini (SAMA) and Syeda Hameed (Muslim Women’s Forum).

The text of the letter follows:

AS organisations working among women we have been admirers of the many cancer help societies which have given support and solidarity to cancer patients and their families. It was all the more shocking therefore to learn of the methods used by your society to raise funds. We refer to your fund raising programme in hotel Le Meridian on the evening of October 9, 2004 as part of the observance of World Breast Cancer Day.

We understand that in this event young women were paraded on the ramp and men from the audience were invited to bid money for a date with them. This is demeaning and insulting to all women including breast cancer survivors.

We are deeply concerned and disturbed about the fact that increasingly young educated women are drawn into programmes which reduce them to ‘object of entertainment’ for affluent men of our society ostensibly in the name of a ‘good cause’. Such attitudes towards women lead to increasing violence against women.

It would only be appropriate for you to issue a public apology and to give an assurance that functions demeaning to women will not be organised by you in future. (INN)