STEEP price rise and the declining security for women in the country have become the toughest challenges for Indian women, concluded the AIDWA state conference held at Dr Seshareddy Vignana Kendram in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh from September 24- 26.

About 300 delegates representing two lakh members attended the conference which kickstarted with an impressive rally on the first day. Workers, youth, and student organisations have showered petals on the marching AIDWA members to express their solidarity.

The conference discussed the undemocratic, anti-working class policies pursued by the central and state governments which have compelled women to settle with insecure jobs instead of permanent employment. 

Meanwhile, the BJP’s commitment to the ‘Manu smriti based constitution’ instead of the Indian constitution has only resulted in increased violence against women. The recent incidents of rape in Lakhimpur, Uttarakhand, and the remission granted to Bilkis Bano rapists are only a reflection of the BJP’s anti-women stance.

In a bid to draw attention to the alarming price rise, the AIDWA has conducted a signature campaign and collected 42,000 signatures and sent them in a petition to the president of India. 

With the intervention of AIDWA, a few cases of atrocities against women have been registered in Andhra Pradesh. The case of a tribal girl Killo Pushpa who was brutally murdered by her husband was registered by the police only after agitation from the organisation and the husband was taken into custody. Another minor rape victim, a 13-year-old, has survived because of AIDWA’s intervention. She was paralysed after the assault. The police case against her perpetrators was registered only after AIDWA’s intervention through the ‘Ikyavedika’ (joint) platform. However, she did not receive the promised compensation from the government and continues to face harassment and her life is being made miserable for reporting the rape.

AIDWA also stood as a pillar of support for women during the Covid crisis. With no employment during this period, the DWACRA women could not make savings and repay loans. Most of the women had to sell their ornaments to repay the loans. AIDWA took up their issue and questioned the government. It gave direction to all the DWACRA women to send messages to the ministers on this issue. Yielding to the protests, the government postponed the recoveries for three months. 

Even during the difficult situation of the Covid pandemic, AIDWA activists helped migrant workers to the maximum possible extent. Pavitra, a labourer, supported migrant workers by spending the wage she got from NREGA works. 

AIDWA also highlighted the facts that even during the pandemic and lockdown period, wine shops have been kept open. The call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bang plates to drive out corona virus was turned into a call to bang plates against the opening of wine shops. As a result, 1,400 wine shops were closed. On the occasion of the Kandukuri Veeresalingam centenary, AIDWA mobilised 70,000 people for meetings, discussions, seminars, etc.  

AIDWA worked together with ‘Samanvita’ an organisation working for gender equality and published stories about transgenders.

Women are compelled to migrate to different places in search of employment not only inside the country but also in foreign countries as well. The privatisation policy pursued by the government has increased the woes of women manifold. AIDWA demanded an increase in wages in rural employment schemes and also demanded one such scheme for the urban areas also.

It gave a call for more and more women to come out and oppose the anti-people policies of the government. It was decided that a fortnight-long programme would be conducted to highlight the increasing violence against women. The programmes will conclude on November 25 and December 10.

At the conference, AIDWA leader S Punyavathi cleaned the waste from a sink and stood as an example of how it is everyone’s responsibility to keep their surroundings clean.

Kumari, a municipal worker and Sakuntalamma, a 90-year-old freedom fighter were honoured at the conference for their contributions to the AIDWA movement.

Our comrades in Nellore worked hard for two months to make this occasion a grand success. It was a great pleasure to celebrate this occasion as it is the diamond jubilee year for our organisation as well.

Malini Bhattacharya, Mariam Dhawale, S Punyavathi and Professor Sreedevi participated in the conference. Retired lecturer Bharati, convenor of the reception committee, invited guests. The conference decisions will guide the organisation for the next three years and the state committee will work hard for the achievement of these goals.