THE Janwadi Mahila Samiti, Delhi held its XII State Conference from April 15-17, 2016 in the context of growing assault on the rights of women and working classes under the current Modi government. The conference was attended by 147 women from the NCR region and held deliberations on political situation today and its implications for the social and economic rights of women. The conference called upon women to expand their organisation amongst the young and working class women and organise them against the neo-liberal policies of the government.

INAUGURAL

SESSION

The conference started with flag hoisting and paying tributes to the martyrs of the struggle. Amidst slogans of ‘JMS Zindabad’ and ‘JMS ka barhvaan sammelan safal ho’, Dr Surendra Negi sang revolutionary anti-fascist songs and signaled the beginning of the inaugural session. The conference was inaugurated by AIDWA general secretary, Jagmati Sangwan, in the presence of the guest of honour, anti-communal and human rights activist, Teesta Setalvad. Several representatives of women and fraternal organisations were also present.

In her inaugural address, Jagmati Sangwan highlighted the role of the Delhi JMS as an organisation that had done significant work in North India and shown the path to organisations like the Haryana JMS. She said that the country was facing a unique and stiff challenge from conservative rightwing forces and the neo-liberal policies of the government. She highlighted the need for the movement to meet these challenges by building the organisation amongst young and working women (like the scheme workers). She also discussed the problems of organisation building and challenges before the Delhi JMS. She inaugurated the conference with the hope that JMS will discuss strategies to strengthen their struggles.

In her address, Teesta Setalvad followed the tenor of Jagmati Sangwan’s address and pointed to the problems arising from caste, ethnicity and gender discrimination. She said that such discrimination intensified under the rule of the Sangh Parivar government and needed to be contested through joint struggles and broad alliances. She also pointed towards the larger trends in land acquisitions and the oppression of adivasis, dalits and other weaker sections, and said that the fight for their rights had to be linked with the broader democratic struggle.

The session ended with greetings from women’s organisations (NFIW, CWDS, JWP and Purogami Mahila Sangathan) and fraternal organisations (CITU, DYFI, Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch and others).

DISCUSSION

ON REPORT

The delegate session started with the election of committees and a condolence resolution which was placed by Delhi JMS president, Soniya Verma. The conference offered condolences on the death of the former AIDWA leaders Shyamali Gupta, Anwari Begum, Draupadi Yadav and the victims of communal violence, victims of floods and droughts and the temple tragedy of Kerala. Thereafter the general secretary, Sehba Farooqui placed the report on behalf of the incumbent state committee. The report highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation. It focused on the need for attracting young women, cadre building and smooth functioning of unit committees and raising the skills and capabilities of the cadre through regular classes.

About 39 delegates from all districts participated in a rich discussion on the report. The discussion focused on some main aspects of organisation and struggle. First, delegates introspected on the need for strengthening the organisation and receiving support from the state centre for doing this. For example Rupa from North Delhi called upon the state centre to keep regular contact with district committees in order to ensure that they function smoothly. Roma Sharma from Noida pointed out that women pay Rs 2 for membership very reluctantly because of price rise. Naseem from Shahri Dilli pointed out the need for regular meetings and interactions and also highlighted the need for follow-up of initiatives (especially in the case of health insurance cards that were provided to home based workers). Suman from North West Delhi also highlighted the need for follow-up action when she said that the work with domestic workers should be followed up. But a lot of optimism and hope was also displayed by the women who said that they had gained confidence and knowledge in working with the organisation. As Indu from South West Delhi put it, “We are proud of ourselves, because we have power in ourselves”.

Second, many interventions at the local level were also highlighted especially in the sphere of right to food, violence against women and on issues of basic amenities like water and relocation of slums. The struggles of women of Rangpuri Pahadi were narrated by Radha from South West Delhi, while Pushpa from East Delhi narrated the struggle for basic amenities such as drainage, health services. Sita from East Delhi highlighted the need to intensify the struggle for a universal PDS system. Rukhsana from Ghaziabad, Krishna from North Delhi and several others also narrated the work that they had done to get people old age pension. Dharmo Devi from VP House and Pinky from Noida emphasised the need for taking up the cause of women domestic workers and contract labourers.

Third, there was a big contingent of young girls who emphasised that the organisation should take pro-active measures to organise the youth and take up the problems of young girls. As Neha from North-West Delhi said, we have been hearing time and again that JMS will work with young girls, but why has it not focused on them till now? If we focus on them, the girls will come. She also said that we should have sports and cultural events to attract young girls.

All in all the discussion on the report highlighted the main concerns of the organisation. It was emphasised that the work to organise young girls and women should be undertaken on an urgent basis by the new committee.

RESOLUTIONS AND

COMMISSION PAPERS

Three resolutions were taken up and passed in the conference. The first was on price rise and the need for a universal PDS system which was placed by Asha Sharma and seconded by Rajwati from South West Delhi. The second resolution was against the discontinuance of old age and widow pension by the MCDs and Delhi government which was placed by Soniya Verma and seconded by Rupa of North Delhi. The third resolution was placed on the need for the organisation to deal with problems facing young girls and women. This resolution was placed by Kavita Sharma and seconded by Neha from North West Delhi.

Three commission papers were also discussed in the conference in order to formulate the organisational strategy on specific issues. The discussion on the commission paper on basic amenities was led by Asha Yadav and Kavita Sharma. Maimoona Mollah and Piyali led the discussion on the commission paper on women and law. Archana Prasad and Rajwati led the discussion in the commission on domestic workers and our organisation. The reports presented in the last session of the conference showed that rich discussions had taken place and some planning was done on how to proceed on these issues.

A general discussion also took place on challenges of caste and communalism after the screening of the film ‘Muzaffar Nagar Baqi Hai’.

NEW COMMITTEE AND

CONCLUDING SESSION

As is the practice in AIDWA, office bearers who have completed three terms in office pave the way for new office bearers. This year Soniya Verma (president), Sehba Farooqui (general secretary) and Anju Jha (treasurer) completed nine years or three terms in office and therefore it was necessary to change the main office bearers. A 43 member new state committee was elected which chose 15 secretariat members in its first meeting. The fifteen secretariat members are: Maimoona Mollah (president), Asha Sharma (general secretary), Kiran (treasurer), Sehba Farooqui, Soniya Verma, Bhagwan Devi, Anju Jha and Kavita Sharma as vice presidents; Tajwar, Rajwati and Asha Yadav as joint secretaries; and Archana Prasad, Rupa, Pushpa and Niru as secretariat members.

The report of the credential committee was presented by Rekha Verma from South Delhi. The report especially showed the working class social base of the JMS with 85 of the 130 delegates being either home based or domestic workers. It also showed the development of a new leadership with 57 of the 147 delegates attending the conference for the first time. Of these there were many young girls.

The concluding session was first addressed by the new secretary Asha Sharma who highlighted the challenges before the organisation and pledged to carry forward the work of the earlier committee with renewed vigour. Sudha Sundaraman, vice president, AIDWA, delivered the concluding address. She highlighted the need to strengthen the ground level organisation through smooth functioning of unit and district committees. She also highlighted the present day challenges and the need to creatively organise new sections of the society. She praised the work of the JMS and congratulated it on effecting a new transition in electing a brand new committee. In the end she expressed confidence in the organisation and its ability to tackle new challenges.

The conference ended on a note of celebration when the women sang and danced their way to lunch. There after the delegates headed home and to their areas to begin work with renewed confidence and strength.