AIPWA and AICCTU jointly organised a workshop of women activists in Haldwani on 16 October where women from all parts of Uttarakhand representing various sections including ASHA, Anganwadi, Mid-day Meal and industrial workers, students and peasantry participated.
The workshop was addressed by AIPWA national secretary Shashi Yadav where she criticised increasing attacks on women under Modi regime and reminded the anti-working women attitude of this government. She condemned the statement of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that women must be confined inside their homes and said that BJP is trying to impose a fascist repressive code against women.
She further added that the women are coming forward in all walks of life through their struggles which are also manifested in their demands of equity and equal wages for equal work. The related laws have proved a lollipop as their proper implementation has never been achieved by the government. The open exploitation of ASHA, Anganwadi, mid-day meal and industrial workers which needs to be resisted through a very powerful women’s movement to ensure equal wages as well as dignified and equitable work conditions. She told that forthcoming AIPWA National Conference which will be held in Patna on 13-14 November will focus on struggles against fascist-patriarchal attacks on women in the country.
Uttarakhand ASHA Health Workers’ Union president Kamla Kunjawal welcomed the participants and said that it is only the struggle that makes women freer in day to day endeavors of their lives, be it in home or outside.
The workshop was presided over by Uttarakhand Anganwadi Union’s state president Dipa Pandey. Vimala Rauthan, Basanti Bisht, Mina Arya, Rita Kashyap, Indira Deopa, Nirmla Pal, Hira Bhatt, Saroj Pant, Usha, Munni Bisht, Rina Bala, Rama, Roopa, Jyoti Upadhyay, Mamta Arya, Leela Mehar, Bhagwati Sanwal, Ruby Bhardwaj, and many others actively took part in the workshop. Two resolutions expressing solidarity with the ongoing struggles of Anganwadi Workers in state and Minda Factory workers in Sidcul were also passed by the participants.
