People's Democracy

ANGANWADI FEDERATION

TU Classes For Activists In Hindi States  

THE All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) held for five days central trade union classes for its activists in Hindi states, at BTR Bhawan, the CITU headquarters in Delhi, from May 24 to 28. CITU general secretary M K Pandhe inaugurated the classes while AIFAWH treasurer A R Sindhu acted as the principal.

This was the first time that trade union classes for Anganwadi union activists in Hindi states were held for five days; the earlier two classes in the last four years were only for three days each. The AIFAWH’s all-India conference at Puri had stressed the importance of cadre development by training the activists and raising their consciousness, and the need to develop among them a deeper understanding of various aspects of society. The working committee planned the classes accordingly. Initially there were apprehensions that women, particularly from the socially backward Hindi states, would not be able to stay on for five days at a stretch and the attendance would not be as per expectations. Added to this was the fact that a large number of marriages are fixed on these days, and that the Class X results were also to be announced on the day the classes started. But some of the activists, whose children appeared for the Class X exams, chose to attend the classes, instead of remaining at home to receive the results.

The classes were attended by 52 activists from 8 states --- Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan. It was expected that around 60 activists from 11 states would join, but representatives from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal could not attend mainly due to organisational weaknesses. The attendance as well as the participation in discussions was good from Punjab, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh where the unions are active. The participants from Jharkhand were all tribal women, first time attending such trade union classes, but they too were very attentive and tried to understand the subjects.

The subjects included Evolution of Society and the Status of Women in Indian Context by A R Sindhu, Caste and Women in Indian Society by Jagmati Sangwan (president, Haryana state committee of AIDWA), Attitude of Different Political Parties towards the Problems of the Working Class by Indrajeet Singh (secretary of the CPI(M)’s Haryana state unit), Communalism in India Today by Kanai Bannerjee (secretary, CITU), Political Economy by Tapan Sen (secretary, CITU), Background of Imperialist Economic Offensive and Impact of Globalisation on Different Sections of Society by W R Varada Rajan (secretary, CITU), and Importance and Principles of Organisation by Hemalata (CITU secretary and AIFAWH general secretary). Each session consisted of a lecture of about 2 hours and group discussion for about half an hour, followed by a question-answer session. Interesting discussions followed each lecture, which indicated the participants’ interest in the classes.

In the last session on feedback and future tasks, the participants were unanimous that the classes were useful for them in understanding the social and political background in which they had to organise the Anganwadi workers and helpers. It was decided to organise state and district level classes in all the states by October end.

AIFAWH president Neelima Maitra concluded the classes, asking the participants to put into practice whatever they had learnt. Revolutionary songs from the participants enlivened the classes all along.