Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan, who is the first Dalit woman mayor of the city, has on Friday - April 1 issued a warning to all women councillors that they should not entertain their spouses to exercise the powers and duties vested for them.

On Friday, the Mayor has inaugurated an event at the Corporation hall and the event was attended by the Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai. Following the event, Mayor Priya Rajan has addressed the reporters during which she was asked about the issue where the spouses of the women councillors are exercising the latter's power and responsibilities.

She said that the councillors, who were elected by the people, know their responsibilities and the powers should be executed by whoever got elected, with no disruptions. She further said that stern action will be taken against the women councillors who let their spouses take over their responsibilities. Her warning has come when the matter of atrocity has come to light.

Recently in Chennai, the spouse of a woman councillor in the city was seen abusing a petitioner while his wife, the actual councillor was sitting nearby. Such events were also reported from other parts of the city as the residents express distress over the challenge with their local government institutions. Priya Rajan has also said that the corporation is taking measures to enhance women's safety in the city.

She said that at the initial level, street lamps will be installed at the cost of Rs 69 crore in the lacking areas to ensure that women have a safe move during night hours. She further said that Rs 33 crore has been allotted to construct new lavatories in public places and Rs 5.4 crore has been allotted for maintaining the new lavatories and installing mobile toilets.