An NGO named PENN (Protection and Empowerment of Naree) was launched in Chennai a couple of years ago by five Chennaites from different backgrounds – V. S.Sridhar, a corporate executive, Sree Ram, consultant to TN Police, Anand, a technocrat, Sriram Sharma, director and music composer and Swarnalatha Mahesh, an advocate.
It aims to create a safe environment for women and to tackle crimes against women at various levels.
It has its registered office at 116/71, Apparswamy Koil Street, Mylapore. Their staff can be reached at 92824 01503 or at pennindia2020@gmail.com
This NGO says it has been creating awareness through plays on issues like child marriage. Workshops on self defence techniques and cyber security have been held for students in schools, colleges.
The NGO celebrated its second anniversary on March 5 at a hotel in Chennai and launched a new advisory board comprising retired DGP S R Jangid, former judge of the Madras High Court, Justice Prabha Sridevan, retired additional chief secretary, D. Sabitha, vocalist P. Unnikrishnan, cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, actress Revathy, Kamala Selvaraj of GG Hospitals and senior consultant of UNESCO, Venkatraman.
Playback singer K S Chitra was the guest of honour at the event. She has recorded the anthem for PENN – it was released at the event in her presence.
– Report by Juliana Sridhar
