People's Democracy

                                                                                                                                        N S Sajith

THE seventh all India conference of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers has begun in Thiruvananathapuam on October 4, 2012. CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen inaugurated the conference in Comrade Captain Lakshmi Sehgal Nagar (AKG Hall, adjacent to AKG Centre Thiruvananthapuram). 

While inaugurating the conference, Tapan Sen said the UPA government has provided plenty of opportunity to the oil companies to loot the people. UPA succumbed to the pressure of these companies disregarding the people who are suffering the difficulties due to the price rise. At this juncture, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh ridicules the aam aadmi by saying there is no money growing on tree. The prime minister is reduced to be a servant of domestic and international corporates. 

The decision to allow Foreign Direct Investment in retail will make lakhs of people jobless. Corporate groups get the benefits of the spiraling prices of essential commodities. The number of LPG cylinders has been reduced when the price of the fuel is increasing. The government is also planning to phase out all subsidies. Even the anganwadi sector is getting thrown into the hands of private players. A strong resistance is needed to stop these anti people moves, Tapan Sen added.

Prior to the inaugural session, Nilima Moitra, President of the Federation presented the condolence resolution and Varalakshmi presented the martyrs resolution. CITU President A K Padmanabhan and Federation state president K P Mary also attended the inaugural session. Nilima Moitra presided over the function and Adv. K Chandrika, chairperson of organisational committee and mayor of Thiruvananthapuram welcomed the delegates.

In the morning, marking the beginning of the conference, Nilima Moitra hoisted the flag in front of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal Nagar. Leaders and delegates paid floral tributes at the martyrs’ column. After the inaugural session, Dr. Hemalatha, General Secretary of the Federation presented the organisational report. Group discussions over this report have begun. General discussions followed. Around 800 delegates from various states are attending the conference. A seminar on ‘Malnutrition and Integrated child welfare scheme’ was also organised on the occasion of the conference.

The conference will culminate with a massive rally on October 7. The rally to be organised in Putharikkandam ground will be inaugurated by CITU President A K Padmanabhan.