THE CPI(M) Maharashtra state committee organised a three-day state-level Party class for its leading activists working on the women’s front from October 2-4, 2015. The class was held in the Comrade B T Ranadive Memorial Bhawan in New Mumbai. 112 selected women activists from 13 districts attended the class.

The topics and teachers of the class were as follows: 1. Current challenges before the women’s movement – CPI(M) Central Committee member Sudha Sundararaman; 2. The danger of communalism and casteism – state committee member Dr Uday Narkar; 3. What is Marxism? – Central secretariat member Dr Ashok Dhawale; 4. The path of the Indian revolution (Party Programme) – Dr Ashok Dhawale; 5. Party organisation – Central Committee member Mahendra Singh; 6. Building the women’s front – state secretariat member Mariam Dhawale; 7. Future tasks before the women’s front – state committee member Sonya Gill.

Each session of the class was chaired by leading women comrades. Each class was followed by a lively question and answer session that clarified many issues and doubts. Party literature worth over Rs 3,000 was sold in this class.

On the last day there was a special workshop on strengthening the women’s front in which there was district-wise group discussion and one activist from each district placed their district planning before the class. This was a very enthusiastic session.  

The largest participation of 31 women activists was from Thane-Palghar district, followed by 12 each from Mumbai, Wardha and Pune districts, and 10 from Solapur district. Nashik, Sangli, Raigad, Kolhapur, Buldana, Amravati, Satara and Jalna were also represented.

It was decided in the class that the women’s organisation will hold a state-level Jansunwai (public hearing) on the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) on October 27, 2015 in Mumbai. Women from various districts will participate in the Jansunwai with concrete proofs of the non-functioning of, and corruption in, the PDS. A call for mass struggles of women on this issue and on the unbearable price rise under the Modi-led BJP regime will be given from this programme.