On 11th July, a condolence meeting was organized for the departed soul of founder of the Working Women’s Forum, Jaya Arunachalam at Chennai, in which hundreds of people participated. Jaya Arunachalam died on June 29 in Chennai.
From across South India thousands of poor women streamed into Chennai to pay homage to their beloved Jayamma at her remains. Women activists, Political leaders, Civil Servants, Professionals from various walks of life, Doctors, Co-operators, Writers and Women’s Organizations, paid their homage to her.
Besides Indian co-operators paying their respects to Mrs Arunanchalam, Ariel Guarco, Global President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) also wrote a piece remembering her contributions.
Ariel wrote “On behalf of ICA I would like to offer your family, and all the Indian worker Cooperative Women our sincere condolences. Dr. Arunachalam, a pioneer of women’s Self Help Group movement helped the Cooperative movement’s development and contributed significantly to the advancement and empowerment of women in India and beyond”. All of us must pay tribute to her and her outstanding achievements, ICA President added.
International Raiffeisen Union (the oldest Cooperative Union in the world also passed a board resolution condoling her death. Its President Mr. Depickere of IRU said that the Board observed a silence on July 4th, 2019
in Europe, 2 days after her death.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) Geneva, Division of Cooperatives mourned the deep loss to women workers cooperatives. The Gender Equality Committee of the International Cooperative Alliances Chair and members worldwide had expressed their deep sorrow.
JCCU’s Vice-President also paid tributes on behalf of the Board and sent the first condolence, said Nandini Azad who was on way to Rameshwaram along with the family and friends for flowing the ash in the river after the last rites.
Cooperatives from countries such as America, Argentina, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latin America, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore, Vietnam, etc., also paid their condolences.
The media extolled her role in utilizing cooperatives for social reforms to advance the interests of women co-operators.
Cooperatives across India and all over the world lost a tall leader in the death of Dr. Jaya Arunachalam on 29th June, 2019. She was an indefatigable defender of poor women and their rights. She also created Institutions which were exclusively governed by women such as Working Women’s Forum (India) / Indian Cooperative Network of Women with several thousands of women members.
