People's Democracy

“AIDWA Will Struggle To Ensure That UPA Remains Committed To The CMP”

                                                                                   Sudha Sundararaman

THE CEC meeting of AIDWA was held in Delhi on May 27- 28, 2006.It was presided over by Subhashini Ali.  Sudha Sundararaman, general secretary, placed the report on current developments. The CEC congratulated the AIDWA units of West Bengal and Kerala who had actively campaigned for the LF and LDF victories for which the widespread support of women voters had been an important factor. The Tamil Nadu and Assam units had also played an important role in the campaigns.

The CEC condemned the continued belligerence of US imperialism and its ongoing efforts to extend the barbaric “war on terror” to Iran. It noted that in countries like France, Britain, Germany, and even in the US, workers were mobilising against anti labour laws in huge numbers.

The efforts being made by many Latin American countries to introduce quotas for increasing political representation of women, and the special allowance for housewives, which amounts to 80 per cent of the national minimum wage that was announced in Venezuela were deeply appreciated.

The report and the discussion focused on the total insensitivity of the UPA government to the needs of the people, especially in its handling of agricultural issues and the growing problem of food insecurity. There was deep anger against price rise and the faulty PDS as no grain is reaching the ration shops. Moreover the implementation of NREGA did not do justice to women in many states, --- in UP work had not started, in MP, women were not being given job cards except in some places, Andhra women were being paid late and in most states, the allocation for women was being bypassed. AIDWA CEC resolved to strengthen the monitoring at the district level. 

Issues of development-driven displacement leading to impoverishment of people in the absence of adequate rehabilitation measures were raised. Grave problems being faced by migrant women, the families, and their children, whose numbers are increasing, were highlighted. The unfortunate orders of the Supreme Court against hawkers and slum dwellers rights leading to further marginalisation were discussed. The peculiar situation in newly formed states like Uttaranchal where the 15 year criteria made it impossible to acquire a residential certificate was pointed out.

The CEC condemned the Chattisgarh BJP government’s dangerous decision to solicit help from US – world terrorist number one - to control Naxalism. Not only will killings increase phenomenally, the security of the nation will also be in jeopardy.

The CEC also expressed its concern at the recent communal violence witnessed against minority communities in BJP-ruled states and also in UP. The Rajasthan government is introducing textbooks with a marked communal bias in classes X and XII.  The unconstitutional ban on screening of Fanaa in Gujarat was condemned.

FUTURE TASKS

The CEC decided that in view of the unbearable increase in the prices of essential commodities like wheat and dal, if and when the central government carried out its threat of increasing petroleum prices, AIDWA activists all over the country would take to the streets in militant actions against price rise.

AIDWA will fight for strengthening of the PDS, to prevent the government’s intention of raising the issue prices of APL rations and to restore grain supply to ration shops.

The recent sting operations against doctors involved in revealing the sex of the foetus to the parents have highlighted the involvement of the medical profession in this crime and also the complete indifference of various governments to implement the PcPNDT Act.  Medical councils and the IMA will face women’s wrath for such actions.

The next session of Parliament will witness a big demonstration by women’s organisations jointly demanding that Women’s Reservation Bill be placed in Parliament.

The issue of increasing violent attacks on women, and the way that criminals get away due to faulty investigation as in the Jessica Lall case was condemned. As in the Jaipur, and Mumbai rape case where the trial was swift, and the criminals were convicted, the government should resort to fast track courts in other such cases so that justice is delivered in time.

The Rules of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act should be notified immediately.

The meeting also reinforced the plans for a National Jatha which will be launched in November to highlight the various facets of the social reform movements and the role of AIDWA in the struggle for equality over the last 25 years. The following four important resolutions were passed:

On Reservation in Educational Institutions-AIDWA extends its support to the proposal for 27% reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher learning, with the proviso that the creamy layer should be kept out. Other economically backward students not covered by reservation should also be considered. The number of seats in the institutes must be increased. It points out that girls from OBC communities have been especially vulnerable to discrimination and for them, this reservation represents an important affirmative step forward.

On Strict Implementation of PcPNDT Act - AIDWA resolves that the issue of the continuous decline in the female sex ratio needs to be taken up on an emergency basis with the central and state governments, in view of the impending social and demographic disaster. Even after being caught red-handed, doctors guilty of violating the law are often being allowed to go scot-free by the administration. Only one conviction has taken place so far in the twelve years after the legislation was passed. This shows a shocking lack of seriousness on part of the central and state mechanisms for implementing the Act. The CEC strongly condemns this callousness and resolves to continuously campaign to protect the girl child, to expose criminal practice of sex selection and to keep up the pressure on the government and institutions responsible for the implementation of the PCPNDT Act.

On Price Rise: the CEC is very critical of the UPA government which even after 2 years in office has failed to control the prices of essential commodities. There has been a steep increase in prices, particularly of grains, pulses, sugar, milk, vegetables, etc, fuelled also by the periodical hike in prices of petrol and diesel. The high prices are severely affecting the lives of the poor. The prices of dal that are an important source of protein are not less than Rs 55 per kg. Kerosene is blackmarketed at prices ranging from Rs 25-40 per litre. As a result, the calorie intake of poor and middle class families is reducing day by day, and women who eat least and last are the worst affected.

AIDWA warns the UPA government that the women of India will not tolerate this additional burden. The attempts by the government to raise the price of kerosene and LPG will be fiercely resisted by AIDWA and other Left organisations.

The government must step in immediately to control the prices of essential commodities and invoke the provisions of the essential commodities act to stop hoarding and blackmarketing. There should be no further increase in the prices of petroleum products. The public distribution system should be strengthened and universalised as per the promise given in the CMP.

On the victory of the Left in the recent Assembly elections: AIDWA CEC extends its hearty greetings to the people of West Bengal and Kerala, as well as the people of Tamil Nadu for the electoral verdict. The victory of the Left in W. Bengal and Kerala is a source of hope and inspiration for all women. In W. Bengal, none of the measures of the election commission that in effect led to the curtailment of democratic rights could deflect people from exercising their franchise. AIDWA CEC appreciates the remarkable surge of support to the Left Front from women in the state.

31 out of the total of 36 women candidates who contested elections have won; of these 29 are from the Left. 26 are AIDWA leaders. AIDWA national secretary Rekha Goswami has been made a cabinet minister, CEC member Bilasibala and AIDWA WB state council member Devlina Hemram are state ministers while CEC member Chandana Ghosh Dastidar has also been elected as an MLA.

In Kerala, the LDF victory signals the rejection of the UDF government’s anti-people policies, and an endorsement of development directions aimed at benefiting the large mass of ordinary people. Women and minorities in large numbers demonstrated their support for the LDF. The induction of AIDWA national secretary Sreemathy as a cabinet minister and the victory of CEC member Shailaja is indeed a matter of great pride for AIDWA.

In Tamil Nadu, the overthrow of the Jayalalitha regime by the people in favour of the DMK and allied partners was a welcome verdict. One notable aspect is that out of the 13 candidates fielded by the CPI(M), 3 were AIDWA activists and all three won. Our CEC member Balabharati was re-elected. In all these states, AIDWA activists were in the forefront of the hectic campaign, and the victory vindicates their hard work. AIDWA resolves to strengthen its interventions on women’s issues in these states.