Translation error irks women in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, May 21: A translation error in a central government order has offended women in Kerala as it appeared aimed at keeping tabs on women's movement -- though something else was intended.

The Local Self Government (LSG) department issued a directive to the Corporations and Municipalities in Kerala last month that a special committee be formed to keep track on "apatha sancharam" (a close tab on the wrong movement of women). This has irked the women leaders.

The central government order aimed at checking female trafficking and foeticide in the state.

Kerala Mahila Congress state president Shanimol Usman told reporters Thursday that the state government should not only withdraw the order but the Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan should apologise for this.

"This is an insult to the women in the state and amends should be made through an apology by the chief minister because what we understand is that some local bodies have already discussed this," she said.

Former Maoist leader and prominent women activist leader K. Ajitha was the first to come out against this order. She termed the order "outrageous".

All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) state president T.N. Seema told IANS that this happened because of a translation error.

"After making inquiries at the LSG department it was found out that an order from the Centre had come asking for formation of committees to be formed for checking female trafficking and foeticide. The LSG department made a mistake in the wording when it was translated and hence this confusion rose. There is nothing beyond that," said Seema, who is also a CPI-M state committee member.