Men who want to be women

VILLUPURAM: The brand new pavadai dhavani fits the broad-shouldered, tall Abhinaya.
Taking a closer look, one realises that she is actually a man wearing a wig.
The 35-year-old transvestite is Ramasamy, a married man from Erode. His wife and daughter are not aware of his visit to Koovagam. Neither are they aware of his sexual orientation.
In the milling crowd of Koothandavar devotees, who throng Villupuram during Chitra Pournami, Ramasamy nee Abhinaya is not an odd man out.
A good chunk of gathering comprises men in women’s clothing. Those cross-dressers, who believe they are women trapped in men’s bodies, lead a dual sex life back home and give expression to their innermost urge once a year at Koovagam.
“I have always felt like a woman but since I come from a very conservative family, I just cannot express my sexual orientation. It is here I feel free to be myself and have fun with no guilt,” says Abhinaya.
Most of them look out for cameras and known faces in the crowd, fearing they might be identified. For the secret sojourn is just to satisfy their urges and nothing else. Even the photographs of them dressed like women are only for closet watching, just to rekindle the sweet memories.
They come from different parts of India and abroad. Successful businessmen, professionals like doctors and engineers and even highly placed government officials have made the secret visit this year.
Three such men from Singapore, who had been intimate friends since childhood, have come to Koovagam on their maiden visit. Those men, who are technically classified as ‘men having sex with men’ (MSM), say that in their country there was no freedom to lead the life they wanted.
They have told their families that they were going on a business tour. They purchased sarees and accessories in Chennai. A coy Seetha (that is the name he has given himself) asks if he looks good in the new attire.
The freedom to dress is not the lone attraction for the men. They also make the trip to satisfy their ‘sexual urges’.
Goda, an MSM running an NGO in Mumbai says, “It is cheap out here. Sometimes comes free of cost.”
During the festival season, certain lodges in Villupuram are known for such activities. For those who pay, the rates range from Rs 50 to Rs 1000.
But on the other side, there are also some male sex workers who come to Koovagam for a break and to offer prayers at the Koothandavar temple.
Manorama from Chennai says: “I am tired of dressing up and waiting on clients. So here I have come like a man dressed in trousers and need a break from sex trade.”

A unique festival in villupuram

VILLUPURAM: The battle of Kurukshetra between the Pandavas and the Kauravas was about to begin. For the Pandavas to win, a human sacrifice was needed to please Goddess Kali.
It had to be a true fearless warrior, and the three worthy of sacrifice were Lord Krishna, Arjuna and Aravan, the heroic son of Arjuna and the young Naga princess Ulupi. After much deliberation, it was decided Aravan would be the one to die.
Aravan expressed his last wish; he wanted to marry before his death. But no woman was willing to marry him as he was going to be killed the next day. So, Lord Krishna took the form of Mohini and spent the night with him. The next day, before the war started, young Aravan was sacrificed to the goddess.
This tale was re-enacted in a small, nondescript village called Koovagam, about 20 km from Villupuram and about 200 km from Chennai, on Chitra Poornima, the full moon day in the month of Chitra.
The deity at the Koovagam temple is Aravan and he is called Kuthandavar locally. Among those who assemble at the village to celebrate the festival are trans-genders, gay men, transvestites, etc. They come not only from all over India but abroad too.
As trans-genders consider themselves reincarnations of Mohini, they look at Aravan as their lover. They are called Aravanis today -- those Prince Aravan married and spent his last night with.

Incresing child labours in tamilnadu

  

Some things can never be changed and child labour is one such issue, which never seems to end. Child labour is abundant in most of the third world nations. In Tamilnadu, most of the children below are often employed as domestic servants.

Despite strict law having been enacted way long back to abolish all the forms of child labour, mainly the difficult jobs of the industrial sector, no one follows them.

It is the parents who force their children to earn money and the manufacturing companies grab this chance as they are getting their human resources for a much lesser cost.

However, the government has now declared its intention of implementing a ban on child labour, specifically as domestic servant, in the restaurants, dhabas and in the hospitality industry as well.

The ban is to come in force from October 10 this year, and anyone who is found violating the law will face a prison term of three months, which may even go up to 2 years and the accused will also have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

even though all this child labour still labour
Some things can never be changed and child labour is one such issue, which never seems to end. Child labour is abundant in most of the third world nations. In Tamilnadu, most of the children below are often employed as domestic servants.

Despite strict law having been enacted way long back to abolish all the forms of child labour, mainly the difficult jobs of the industrial sector, no one follows them.

It is the parents who force their children to earn money and the manufacturing companies grab this chance as they are getting their human resources for a much lesser cost.

However, the government has now declared its intention of implementing a ban on child labour, specifically as domestic servant, in the restaurants, dhabas and in the hospitality industry as well.

The ban is to come in force from October 10 this year, and anyone who is found violating the law will face a prison term of three months, which may even go up to 2 years and the accused will also have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

even though all this child labour still labour............................

Melmaruvathur – Villupuram passenger

 

Chennai, May 17: Due to persistent demands from rail users, passenger associations and elected representatives of the public, Southern Railway will introduce MEMU passenger train between Melmaruvathur and Villupuram.

Melmaruvathur – Villupuram – Melmaruvathur main line EMUs (Train Nos.109/110) will run with effect from May 18.

The train will depart Melmaruvathur at 11.40 hrs and reach Villupuram at 13.15 hrs. In the return direction, the train will leave Villupuram at 13.45 hrs and reach Melmaruvathur at 15.15 hrs.

The trains will stop at Acharapakkam, Tindivanam, Mailam and Vikravandi, according to a Southern Railway press release. (Our Correspondent)

Ministers from northern districts raise objections

CHENNAI: Ministers hailing from several northern districts of the State on Tuesday raised objections to the delimitation proposals for many Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.

Making his submission before members of the Delimitation Commission in Chennai, Public Works Minister Durai Murugan, who represents the Katpadi Assembly constituency, referred to the proposed bifurcation of his constituency and said it was not properly designed.

While earmarking the boundaries of the constituencies, panchayat unions and panchayats were sought to be divided. The Katpadi constituency, as planned now, would be covering three-four taluks.

Arguing for renaming the Chinnasalem constituency as Sankarapuram constituency, K. Venkapathy, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, said the nomenclature of Sankarapuram should be retained at any cost.

He pointed out that the Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Kallakurichi and Villupuram Lok Sabha constituencies were proposed to be made reserved constituencies.

M.R.K. Paneerselvam, Backward Classes Minister, said the Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency was a reserved constituency for long, Cuddalore too was now sought to be made one such constituency. E.V.Velu, Food Minister, emphasised the need to retain the Thandrampattu Assembly constituency.

C. Ve. Shanmugam, former Education Minister and the current Member of Legislative Assembly from Tindivanam (AIADMK), expressed his disapproval of the concentration of several reserved constituencies in the northern parts of the State.

T.K. Raja, Pattali Makkal Katchi's representative of the Tirupattur Assembly constituency, expressed his objection to the abolition of the Tirupattur Lok Sabha constituency. Abdul Basit, DMK's Vaniyambadi MLA, said that according to the present proposal, people in several tribal villages would have to travel about 85 km to meet their representative in Ambur. Gayatri Devi, Madurantakam MLA (Congress), wanted reconsideration of the move to make both the Madurantakam and Cheyyur constituencies reserved seats.

A participant said the Kallakurichi Lok Sabha constituency and four out of six Assembly constituencies coming under it would be reserved constituencies. At least, the Lok Sabha constituency should be a general seat. Another participant wanted Tirusoolam and Meenambakkam, on the southern outskirts of Chennai, made part of the Alandur constituency. Several members called for the retention of the Triplicane constituency.

Later, Kuldip Singh, chairman of the Delimitation Commission, told presspersons that the panel was expected to complete its work by September.

Only a few more States including Bihar and Assam had to be covered.