THE Maharashtra state committee of the All India Democratic Women’s Association held its meeting last month in the working class city of Solapur, amidst great enthusiasm. It was held in the wake of the recent municipal corporation elections, in which many women candidates of the AIDWA contested on the Left symbol and gave a tough fight.

Kamini Adam won as municipal corporator by a thumping majority against candidates of all bourgeois parties and CEC member Naseema Shaikh and some other AIDWA leaders lost by small margins. The good votes that they received were a testimony to their socio-political work over the years. This electoral battle and the women activists that were mobilised for it augur well for the growth of the AIDWA in Solapur.

The AIDWA state committee discussed in depth about current political and socio-economic developments, the anti-people, anti-women, neo-liberal and pro-corporate policies of the BJP-led central and state governments and the growing danger of communalism and casteism instigated by the RSS-BJP. A written report on all the above issues was placed by state secretary and CEC member Sonya Gill.

The meeting also discussed and took concrete decisions on burning issues like women and work, MNREGA, tribal women’s survey, implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), women’s health and atrocities on women, apart from organisational decisions.

The meeting was attended by AIDWA vice president Sudha Sundararaman and AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale.

As regards women and work, while noting the sharp decline in women’s employment and dwindling job opportunities, it was decided to concentrate on four main demands: 1. Right of women to employment, 2. Right to recognition as workers, 3. Minimum wage and equal wage for equal work, 4. Social security for women. It was decided to launch agitations on these demands in all areas where there is a sizable number of working women.

It was also decided to select some villages in each district which AIDWA district leaders will visit and, along with local women, will raise the demand for work and proper wages under MNREGA. Demands of domestic workers and home-based workers for minimum wage and social security will be raised in the cities.

With the policies of the Modi regime, the danger of privatisation is hanging over the ICDS. Throwing all its pre-election assurances to the winds, this government has not increased the anganwadi budget allocation. It was decided that AIDWA and the CITU-affiliated Anganwadi Karmachari Sanghatana would help each other and would co-ordinate to launch struggles of anganwadi women and would also mobilise the beneficiaries like pregnant women and lactating mothers in this struggle.

It was decided to conduct a survey of 500 adivasi women in Thane-Palghar and Nashik districts to assess the situation about the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and MNREGA, income from minor forest produce, etc and the questionnaire sent by the AIDWA centre was given. Struggles of tribal women will be launched on the basis of this survey.

The state committee decided to take up issues of women’s health. This issue will be studied and discussed and at least one programme on women’s health and health services will be organised in each district. Then a state-level workshop on ‘Women and Health’ will be held.

Another major decision taken to raise the consciousness of women activists was to organise a three-day state-level study camp for leading women activists from September 8-10. The state committee also took decisions on the membership enrolment drive and formation and activisation of unit committees.

An adivasi women’s sub committee was formed with CEC member Lahani Dauda as convenor. A young women’s sub-committee with state joint secretary Heena Vanga as convenor and a Muslim women’s sub-committee with state joint secretary Rehana Shaikh as convenor have also been formed. It was also decided to form an AIDWA social media team, giving state joint secretary Prachi Hatiwlekar the responsibility for this at the state centre. 

Lastly, an important decision taken was about the state presidentship. Since Mariam Dhawale has to devote much more time at the all India centre after being elected AIDWA general secretary, she stepped down from her post as state president. The state committee unanimously elected CEC member Naseema Shaikh as the new state president.

The state committee concluded with an impressive women’s public meeting. Municipal corporator Kamini Adam was felicitated in this meeting, which was addressed by Sudha Sundararaman, Mariam Dhawale, Sonya Gill, Naseema Shaikh, Lahani Dauda and others.