Details
Raju Vernekar
vernekar.raj@gmail.com
The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has decided to press for a law to prevent honour killings prevalent in certain parts of the country and also to launch a nationwide campaign for adopting this law.
“The above decision was part of the resolutions passed by the AIDWA during its 12 th national convention in Mumbai concluded on Sunday. While convention also decided to fight against “Manuvāda” ( the ethos of a society governed by Manusmṛti), it also decided to fight for the Right to Work, in the wake of the rising unemployment.”
“The resolutions on price rise and demand for universal food security, solidarity with the protests against CAA, NRC and NPR and the implications of Ayodhya Judgement were also passed.”
“On the concluding day:“Manual on Patriarchy and Voices of Dalit Women”, Eight commission papers on different focus areas such as Regressive Ideologies- Patriarchy and Inequalities, Women and Agrarian Crisis, Women and Urbanisation, Women and Education, alleged attacks on Women’s Legal Rights in “Modi Regime” and Social Media and it’s Impact on Women, Problems of disables Women were released.”
“In her key note address senior CPM leader Brinda Karat pointed out that, the country was facing maximum unemployment in the last 45 years and hardly 26 per cent women were able to get jobs. The number of women MPs has grown up to 78 from 62. But this 14 percentage was than the world average of 23 per cent.”
The internet was down in Kashmir nearly for 4 months after article 370 was scrapped giving statehood to J & K. The leaders were detained by the Government. Now it was time that they were released immediately. She also demanded that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) be scrapped altogether since it was being used to place certain states as “disturbed areas’ under the act.
“The convention also pledged support to the proposed nationwide strike on 8 January 2020, called by CITU, INTUC and other organisations, as a protest against the “anti-worker, anti people and anti-national policies” of the Modi-II Government.”
“In the convention a number of activists who valiantly fought against social injustice were felicitated as “symbol of resistance”. Rekha Sutradhar, Padmabil( North Tripura). The 46 year old Rekha’s husband, Tapash was allegedly killed by BJP activists on 18 th June 2018 since he was an active CPM member. She survives on a party whole timers wage. After Tapash was killed, Rekha survives on paltry stipend of Rs 2500 per month provided to her by the Tripura State CPM. Despite this continues to fight the BJP in her area and has refused to shift her loyalties.”
“Chhabila Bibi (North 24 Pargana, West Bengal)-Chhabila (29) (OBC Muslim) and her family faced harassment alleged from the workers of the Trinmool Congress, since she contested and won the 2013 Gram Panchayat election. A bomb was hurled in her house a day before the formation of the new panchayat in which her husband was seriously injured. But she never surrendered to the TMC miscreants and became responsible AIDWA activist.”
“Gomathi(Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu)- Gomathi(18),(Scheduled Caste), a daily wage agricultural worker was raped by one Prakash at a canal. She fought against authorities and subsequently the accused was arrested and now a case against him is on.”
” Comrade Sajini(Kannur,Kerala)- Sajini is the widow of Com CV Dhanaraj, who was allegedly killed by the RSS workers on July 11 2016. At that time Sajini was 33 yrs old. Her son Vivekanand was ten years old and the younger one, Vidyanand was only two years old. She had no means of livelihood. However AlDWA, CPM activists organised a job in a co-operative bank for her. Now she is an active AIDWA worker and its joint secretary in the Kunnaru village.”
Sneha (OBC Yadav) and Mahesh (Dalit) (Andhra Pradesh) faced the wrath of Sneha’s relatives due to their inter-caste marriage). But they resisted all attempts to brand them as out cast and today are living peacefully.
” Suraj (23)(Haryana) fought bravely, against those who killed his brother Pradip and his parents, since Pradip( Dalit) was married to Susheela(Jat). Police did not register a case nearly for 8 months. Susheela also changed her statement. Suraj, who was the only credible eye witness to the murder of his brother and his parents fought the legal battle and was eventually awarded the compensation of Rs.24 lakh by the Court. Suraj achieved this through sheer grit and determination.”
“Sakubai and Kalabai( Maharashtra)- Sakkubai (Yavatmal) and Kalabai (Dahanu), two elderly adivasi women, had undertaken the iconic 200 km long march from Nashik to Mumbai in March 2018, to demand debt waivers, fair fixation of minimum support prices and the proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act.”
