The Jharkhand AIPWA held a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on 4 September 2017 on the issues of growing incidences of rape, murder and violence against women, children’s deaths in hospitals, and demanding equal pay for equal work. Mid-day meal workers, rasoiyas, sanyojikas, sahayika, jal-sahayikas and anganwadi workers participated in the mahadharna. Amid chanting of slogans, the rally which included women in large numbers from Ranchi, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Ramgarh, Garhwa, Giridih, Bokaro, and other districts, started from Ranchi railway station.
The Mahadharna was addressed by AIPWA General Secretary Com. Meena Tiwari and MLA Com. Rajkumar Yadav.
The speakers said that the slogan of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ by the government is a hypocritical trick to cheat the women of Jharkhand. Incidences of rape, murder and violence against women are on the rise, and the culprits roam freely, protected by the powers that be. Recently more than 200 children have died in government hospitals due to negligence and corruption. While the government is giving big companies tax benefits, women workers are not being given even minimum wages. The speakers stressed the need to unite and struggle against these anti-poor, anti-worker, anti-women forces to secure justice.
An AIPWA delegation met the appointed administrative official and submitted a memorandum to the Governor with the following demands: remove the Health Minister; guarantee of Rs 18000 per month minimum wage to all unorganized workers; constitute a welfare board for domestic workers; end human trafficking; stop humiliating, photographing, fining women for open defecation in the name of Swachh Bharat; end contract system in mid-day meals; registration for women students in colleges without fees with guarantee of scholarship.
