“மலையகா” – Kanaganayagam Valethanchan
மலையகப் பெண்களின் சிறுகதைகள் உள்ளடங்கும் தொகுப்பு நூல் அறிமுகமும் மலையக மக்களின் சமூக பொருளாதார நிலை பற்றிய கலந்துரையாடலும் அம்மக்கள் எதிர் நோக்கும் சவால்களை விளங்குதலும் 22.06.2024 ஞாயிற்றுக் கிழமை பிற்பகல் 3.00 தொடக்கம் யாழ். நகரிலுள்ள தந்தை செல்வா ஞாபாகார்த்த கேட்போர் கூடத்தில் நடந்தது.
“Malaiyaka”
An introduction to the collection of short stories by Upcountry women writers and a discussion on the socio-economic status of the Upcountry people and the challenges they face was held on 22.06.2024 Sunday at 3.00 p.m. at Thanthai Selva memorial Auditorium in Jaffna town.
Women played a significant part in the growth and stability of the plantation economy throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Women were brought along with men by the British from India under colonial bondage through indenture, an organized slavery system. Under British rule the plantation economy grew, driving up demand for labor. However, since slavery had already been abolished, the colonial masters resorted to instituting indenture agreements.
But still Women have to deal with systemic violence and abuse, tough and demanding working conditions, cultural and societal prejudices and numerous other forms of exploitation such as low wages, limited access to medical requirements and a lack of government administrative information.
Many who arrived in Sri Lanka became stateless as the government did not accept them as citizens until much later, in 1986, when Indian Tamils were granted citizenship through the Grant of Citizenship to Stateless Persons Act (No. 5 of 1986). It took even longer for women to obtain citizenship through the registration process while male headed households were able to obtain citizenship easily.
