A ONE-day ‘State-Level Women Agricultural Workers Conference,’ organised by the state committee of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Workers’ Union (Lal Bawta), was successfully held on April 27, 2025, in Partur, Jalna district.
As per the decision of the union’s state committee, district-level conferences of women agricultural workers were previously conducted in eight districts, with plans to expand them to additional districts in the future. In these district conferences, written reports were presented and group discussions with women agricultural workers were held. Selected representatives then expressed their views from the conference platform, further strengthening the report. These conferences focused on the specific issues faced by women agricultural workers, identified directions for future struggles and campaigns, and formed district-level committees to lead targeted initiatives. The state-level conference marked the next phase of this process.
An All-India Women Agricultural Workers Conference is scheduled to be held on May 9 and 10, 2025, in Malappuram, Kerala.
Against this backdrop, the state-level conference was organised. The meeting began with the hoisting of the red flag with the sickle and hammer, and a revolutionary tribute at the Martyrs’ Memorial. The conference was inaugurated by labour leader and former corporator, Advocate Vasudha Karad. In her inaugural address, she spoke about the multifaceted issues faced by women agricultural workers. She discussed the triple oppression of patriarchy, caste, and class, and poignantly emphasized that migration is not a solution to the problems of the working class but a problem in itself.
A presidium was elected to conduct the conference, comprising Sarita Sharma, Manjushree Kabade, and Sandhya Sambhe. The conference was addressed by Professor Sunanda Tidke, a leader of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, who urged women workers to take a firm stand against domestic violence and to fight for their rights with the support of legal provisions.
Following this, Manjushree Kabade, state co-secretary of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Workers’ Union (Lal Bawta), presented the conference report. Group discussions were held among the women agricultural workers, with 19 representatives actively participating. Responding to the issues and questions raised during these discussions, Sarita Sharma, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the All India Agricultural Workers Union, provided clarifications. Key concerns such as irregular employment, domestic violence, sexual harassment, inadequate wages, lack of housing, access to land, and ration entitlements were raised.
Subsequently, Vikram Singh, central co-secretary of the All India Agricultural Workers Union, addressed the conference, reflecting on the discussions. He emphasized that women agricultural workers face distinct challenges compared to other sections of the working class and underscored the importance of recognising these specific issues, building struggles to address them, and strengthening the organisation. He commended the independent and capable women leaders and activists emerging from the Maharashtra State Agricultural Workers Union. Highlighting that most women agricultural workers belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, he stressed the need for focused attention on issues of social oppression and discrimination.
In the concluding session of the conference, a new women’s sub-committee comprising 15 members was unanimously elected with Sarita Sharma as the convenor, and Manjushree Kabade and Sandhya Sambhe as co-convenors. The Jalna district committee of the union worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this state-level conference.
