Lipstick leads to transfer of first woman duffedar of Chennai Corporation 

CHENNAI: Duffedar S B Madhavi has been transferred for questioning the ban of using lipstick. Madhavi is the first woman duffedar of Greater Chennai Corporation. She was asked not to use lipstick while attending mayor’s official programmes. However, she did not comply to it. Moreover, she demanded mayor Priya’s personal assistant Sivasankar to show the government order banning lipstick.

Shortly, she was transferred to Tamil Nadu’s Manali zone. The post of duffedar is presently lying vacant. Madhavi’s reply to the memo issued, ‘You asked me not to wear lipstick, but I did. If this is a crime, show me the government order prohibiting me from wearing lipstick.’

Such instructions are a violation of human rights. Your memo stands only if I did not work during duty hours, she said. The memo mentioned charges like dereliction of duty, not coming to work during working hours and disobeying orders of seniors. This action is planned and being a single parent, transferring me to a far place is difficult for me, she said.

Mayor Priya also came forward with an explanation on the matter. Madhavai attending a fashion show held at Ripon Building as part of the Women's Day celebration drew a lot of criticism. She was informed about it. She applies dark colored lipsticks to attract attention.

Questions related to this always come from embassy officials and ministerial offices. So, the mayor clarified that her personal assistant asked her not to use dark lipsticks. The mayor said Madhavi was not transferred in connection with this.