People's Democracy

MAHARASHTRA

Seventh State Conference Of AIDWA

Intensify Struggles, Build Organisation

AIDWA Leaders Leading The State Conference Rally

Mariam Dhawale

THE seventh state conference of AIDWA which was held on August 23-25, 2007 at Wardha was attended by 377 delegates from 26 districts. This delegation represented a membership of 75,112.

The conference venue was named after the veteran leader Kanak Mukherji, the conference hall was named after Prema Oak, the senior leader of Maharashtra and the conference dais was named after the AIDWA Gujarat state secretary Eva Mehta. The conference began with the AIDWA flag being hoisted by the general secretary Sudha Sudararaman. Floral tributes were paid at the martyr’s column.

A public meeting was held on this occasion on August 25, 2007 which was attended by more than 5000 women. AIDWA vice-president Brinda Karat addressing the public meeting said, “The Congress-led UPA central government is sacrificing national interest and surrendering before American imperialism. The independence and sovereignty of our country is in danger because of the Indo-American cooperation in the economic, defence, nuclear and foreign policy sectors. Why is prime minister Manmohan Singh insisting on the implementation of this nuclear deal in spite of majority of the parliament being opposed to it? Why is this government giving a rate of Rs. 1600 for red wheat imported from American companies while giving a rate of only Rs. 850 to our peasants? Organise campaigns and build intense struggles against imperialism and those who are bowing before them.”

Touching upon the burning issues of the people, Brinda Karat said, “The policies of globalisation, rising inflation and unemployment has led to an increase in poverty. 77 percent of the people in our country do not earn more than Rs. 20 per day. Yet they are categorised as ‘APL’. Only those with daily earnings of Rs. 11 are considered as ‘BPL’. This wrong method of identifying families below the poverty line has resulted in majority of the poor being deprived of their right to food and other government schemes. The implementation of the NREGA is extremely unsatisfactory. Thousands of peasants are committing suicide in Vidarbha and other parts of the country. Yet the government is not at all concerned about it. Women have to bear the brunt of this pathetic situation. The masses and women should raise their voices against this unjust political system and increase their struggles manifold.” Brinda Karat also released the AIDWA silver jubilee souvenir in this public meeting.

Enthusiastic Rally

Thousands of women walked in the four kilometre long rally in the blistering afternoon sun on August 25, 2007 which was led by the all India and state leadership of AIDWA. Prajakta Zade, a class VIII student dressed up as Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi on a white mare was a major attraction in the rally. Women marched to the tunes of the enthusiastic band that preceded the rally. Thousands of people watched this disciplined rally of women in great admiration. Slogans against imperialism, globalisation and communalism rent the air. Every nook and corner of Wardha city was decorated by boards, banners, flags and festoons.

The public meeting was presided over by the AIDWA state president Kiran Moghe and was addressed by AIDWA president Subhashini Ali, general secretary Sudha Sundararaman, state general secretary Mariam Dhawale and the reception committee chairperson Vijay Javandiya. Prabha Ghangare placed the vote of thanks.

Inaugural Session

In her inaugural speech, AIDWA general secretary, Sudha congratulated the Maharashtra state committee for the growth of the organisation. Braving all odds, thousands of women in the country are active in the organisation. They have to shoulder three responsibilities – house, work and organisation. She proudly acclaimed the hard work put in by hundreds of our women activists which has made AIDWA the largest women’s organisation in the country with a membership of more than one crore.

Sudha further said, “We have to expose the cruel face of poverty, violence and inequality. While increasing our struggles against the LPG policies, we also have to fight against class, caste, religion and gender discrimination. We want to bring about a total change in society. We must make women politically aware and place alternatives before them. We are the real shareholders of the country and we will not allow the rulers to forget this. I am confident that you will increase your struggles and strengthen the organisation in Maharashtra.”

The condolence resolution was placed on behalf of the presidium consisting of Kiran Moghe, Prabha Ghangare, Hemlata Kom, Saraswati Bhandirge, Shalini Raut and Rehana Shaikh.

Reception committee chairperson Vijay Javandiya welcomed the delegates and said that this conference was being held at a time when there is unprecedented crisis in agriculture. He severely criticised the government’s policies responsible for this crisis.

The highlight of the inaugural session was a heart-rending narration of the hardships faced by women directly affected by the agricultural crisis. Kamlabai Gude from Lone Savangi village in Wardha is from a suicide affected peasant family. She spoke about their travails, life being a daily struggle for survival. “Crops kept failing, cotton prices kept falling, output was not sufficient for repaying loans and debts kept mounting. A notice for auction of our land was served on us by the bank. I had educated my son in spite of all our difficulties. I pleaded with the government officials to give some work to my son,” she said. With a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes, she sadly said, but that did not happen. And finally my husband succumbed to the pressures of mounting debts and ended his life. I lost him because of this insensitive government. Had we got a proper price for our cotton, had my son got some job, my husband would be alive today!

Sindhubai Lohar, sarpanch of Dorli village spoke about the novel form of protest organised by her village. They resolved to sell their village to those who would be prepared to take care of the peasants. She angrily said that the government did not care about the peasants. Ministers and officials keep making false promises and announcing schemes. But no help ever reaches the villages. We decided to organise a campaign against committing suicides.

Many among the delegates having to face the same struggles, hardships and poverty responded spontaneously to the emotions and thoughts expressed by these two women. The deep impact on the delegates could be seen with many of them unsuccessfully trying to control their tears.

The conference was greeted by the AIAWU state vice-president Udayan Sharma, AIKS state joint secretary Shankarrao Danav and CITU state secretary Amrut Meshram and also by Kalavati Wakodkar, president of the Wardha Zilla Parishad.

Discussion on Report

The delegate session started on August 23 in the evening with the election of the steering, minutes and credentials committees. AIDWA state general secretary Mariam Dhawale placed the state report consisting of three parts, namely political, organisational and work report.

After briefly assessing the international and national situation, the political report reviewed the political situation and specific issues facing women in Maharashtra. The severe crisis in agriculture, malnutrition and starvation deaths, poor implementation of the MREGS, collapse of the PDS, black-marketing of PDS food grains and kerosene, problems of women in the unorganised sector, intolerable load-shedding, special economic zones, growing activities of communal and terrorist forces, increasing attacks on dalits, issues of the tribal and minority communities, growing atrocities on women, increase in domestic violence, the decreasing sex ratio, growing menace of dowry and the problem of liquor were detailed in the report.

The work report reviewed the struggles and campaigns in this period in various districts. Thousands of women were mobilised in the last three years in actions on the right to food and BPL ration cards, corruption in the EGS, anti-liquor and anti-violence actions, struggle against the Mahamumbai special economic zone, work amongst Muslim and adivasi women, the experience of organising domestic workers and self-help groups.

The organisational report analysed the increase in membership, expansion in new districts, functioning of committees and training of cadres. Consistent struggles and campaigns and organisational follow-up in the last three years has led to an increase in membership from 54,520 in 21 districts to 75,112 in 24 districts. The report also made a critical review of the organisation, pinpointed the weaknesses and placed the tasks for the future.

70 delegates participated in a lively five-hour discussion on the report. The discussion was held in two parts – political and organisational. Based on their experiences, delegates spoke with a lot of clarity on issues ranging from imperialism, policies of the government and the socio-economic status of women. Delegates also expressed a determination to overcome the organisational weaknesses and surge ahead in Maharashtra. The report was unanimously adopted after the reply by the state general secretary.

The conference passed resolutions to participate in a big way in the August 30 agitations, to wage a struggle against the Mahamumbai special economic zone, against atrocities on dalits, on the agricultural crisis in Maharashtra, against the targeting system, against communal and terrorist activities, for 33 percent reservation for women in state assemblies and parliament and on the questions of women in the unorganised sector.

For the first time in the state conference, separate discussions were held on four commission papers namely, NREGA and its implementation, self-help groups, implementation of the DVA and issues and rights of Muslim women. State treasurer Sugandhi Francis placed the financial accounts for the last three years. The accounts were unanimously adopted.

Conclusion

In her summing up speech, AIDWA president Subhashini Ali praised Wardha district for taking up the challenge of organising the state conference in Vidarbha inspite of the serious agricultural situation. She said, “Women from all sections and communities are attending the conference. Along with all our other struggles, we must also intervene on all issues related to women from the dalit, adivasi and Muslim communities. Atrocities on dalits are increasing, adivasis must get their right to forest land, and police harassment of the Muslim community must stop. The Srikrishna Commission report must be implemented and the guilty must be punished. The struggles for rations, employment, against price hikes, dowry, liquor and violence will have to be intensified and made more broad-based.

“But to take up these issues more effectively we must strengthen our organisation. We should have a planned, systematic method of enrolment and follow-up of our membership drives. There should be proper coordination between the districts and state centre and between the main leaders within the district. Women must learn to function the organisation independently.”

The conference was also addressed by vice-presidents Brinda Karat and Kalindi Despande and assistant secretary Ashalata.

The conference unanimously elected a 49 member state committee which in turn elected a 21 member state secretariat with Ahilya Rangnekar as patron, Kiran Moghe as president, Mariam Dhawale as general secretary and Henmlata Patil as treasurer.

The reception committee and fraternal organisations in Wardha district like the AIKS, CITU, DYFI, SFI, other working class sections and all AIDWA activists worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the conference. The NRMU also extended great help and cooperation.

With a renewed zeal and determination to take the women’s movement and organisation forward in Maharashtra, the conference ended with great enthusiasm and a resonant rendering of ‘We Shall Overcome’.