Spinster brigade makes a case for remaining single

CHENNAI, April 26: As far as petitions go, this perhaps would be a rather unique one.

Spinsters employed with the Tamil Nadu Government have sent in a petition, saying that a provision for two extra increments should be made for single women above 50 in the Pay Commission, in the International Women’s Year. This would be in lieu of the maternity benefits that married women get, they say.

And the reason given: It will encourage other women to stay single. In a signed statement, `your forsaken sisters’ have made an appeal to the TN Governor to champion their cause to the Government. They have also urged the `gallant lotus crusaders’ to come forward to espouse their case . The petition says married women are given `special privileges’ — maternity leave and expenses for marriage. The spinsters say they remained single for a host of reasons not of their own making — to take care of aged or sick parents, and to bring up orphaned nephews and nieces. Therefore, the problems of single women are manifold comparedto those of married women, says the petition.