At 87, Krishammal Jagannathan is still young at heart when it comes to social issues. The octogenarian continues to work day and night to get funds for building 5,000 hutments for the tsunami-affected in Nagapatinam.
A freedom fighter and a close aide of advocate of nonviolence and human rights Vinobha Bhave, Krishnammal feels that the rupees one lakh provided by the government is not enough to build houses for the tsunami-affected people. “I am trying to generate funds so that they can have doors and windows,” she said, speaking at the National Coastal Women Movement of Tamil Nadu chapter.
A staunch supporter of the empowerment of rural women, this veteran who has the pride of having shared the dais with Mahatma Gandhi, has been in the forefront in fighting for the rights of the landless through her organisation Land for the Tillers’ Freedom (LAFTI).
Krishnammal also shared her experiences in fighting various issues including prawn farms, as she urged the participants to work for the liberation of rural women. The freedom fighter also hit out at government freebies, stating that they destroyed livelihoods. “What is the use of them,” she reasoned.