THE central executive committee of the All India Democratic Women’s Association had given a call for a nationwide campaign against the BJP led NDA government’s moves to amend Section 498A, which provides protection to women from atrocities.

Following this call, the Telangana state committee of AIDWA has decided to launch the campaign jointly with other women’s organisations including some NGOs.  It organised a round table meeting with 15 women’s organisations and NGOs, including some lawyers.  On April 21, it also organised a seminar against sexual remarks made by some political leaders and a signature campaign was also held against this, in the evening on the same day.

In the seminar organised at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Subhashini Ali, senior leader of AIDWA and Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M), pointed out that instances of showing disrespect to women are on the rise  ever since the BJP led NDA government came to  power at the centre.  Some ministers in the Modi cabinet are making objectionable remarks against women.  Their utterances reflect the male chauvinism which is part and parcel of the RSS and Sangh Parivar Philosophy.

She further said that women are under the twin attack emanating from the economic policies of the NDA government and the ideology of Sangh Parivar. As a result of the Modi government’s economic policies, women from dalit, adivasi and minority communities, who are already under poverty, are suffering further.

The cut in allocations for public welfare in the Modi government’s budget for 2015-16 adversely effects women’s health, education and human development.  Subhashini Ali called upon the women to fight this twin attack.

The seminar was also addressed by Telangana AIDWA secretary Hymavati. Ashalata, Indira, Jyothi, Upendra, Lakshmi Bai, Meena, Lakshmi amma, Kamalamma, Shyamla, Sharada also participated in this seminar.