A convention on women’s rights with the title No Revolution without Women’s Freedom; No Women’s Freedom without Revolution organized by All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) in Srilata Swaminathan Hall, Kumbakonam, (Tanjore district) Tamil Nadu on 17 February paying tribute to the women martyrs. In the inaugural address, AIPWA State Secretary Revathi stressed on the urgent need to develop a strong women’s movement to fight the escalating violence against women and the reactionary onslaught of patriarchal Manuvadi forces of RSS-BJP, which are snatching away the hard won rights of women. She gave a call to women to fight unitedly and defeat the BJP-AIADMK combine in the forthcoming assembly elections.
All India General Secretary of AIPWA Meena Tiwari, in her special address, stated that we need to advance the struggle for women’s equality, freedom and justice. She highlighted the significant role women have played in the nationwide struggles in the recent past and stated that women should emerge as a major force against the anti-women BJP government at the centre.
The convention honoured the brave women leaders who led the sanitation workers struggle against the Greater Chennai Corporation for 167 days and won the battle against privatisation. Comrade Meena Tiwari honoured Chennai Comrades Jyothi, Ashraf Begum, Kuttiyamma, Velankkani, Periyanayagi, Vasanthi, Lakshmi and Valli (Coimbatore) with shawl, plaque and Periyar’s book on women’s enslavement. She congratulated the fighting spirit of vanguard fighters for their significant victory on behalf of all members of the AIPWA. She further highlighted how working women, ASHA, Anganwadi scheme workers are in the forefront for struggles to secure their livelihoods, security, dignity and democracy. This successful struggle by women sanitation workers has strengthened the fighting spirit and unity of AIPWA, she added.
Comrades Kuttiyamma and Asraf spoke about the determination with which they fought the government and the corporate company RAMCO against the takeover. They urged that women should stay united and fight for justice.
At the outset veteran AIPWA leader Santhanamary rendered women's rights songs. Comrades Jacintha, Vijaya, Manimekalai, Carmel, Madhavi, Philomina, Saroja, Manonmani and others presented the report of AIPWA work in their districts.
CPIML Polit Bureau Member V Shankar, State Secretary Pazha Asaithambi and Central Committee Member Balasundaram addressed the convention. Comrade Shankar called for the defeat of the anti-women Manuvadi BJP alliance in the coming state elections.
In the concluding speech, comrade Ranjani emphasized the necessity to mobilize women on issues like waiver of microfinance loans and interest, against the implementation of VB-GRAM-G and against violence on women and children.
The convention congratulated the sanitation workers of Chennai for their 167-day long militant struggle and adopted the following resolutions:
1. Tamil Nadu Government should abolish the contractual employment of all sanitation workers in the state, regularise their service and withdraw all the cases slapped on the protesting sanitation workers. Increase the wages of rural sanitation workers (Thooimai Kavalar) as per G O 62.
2. The state government should disburse a one-time payment of Rs. 25,000 per ration card to alleviate the debt crisis of women. The central government should abolish all the microfinance institutions, waive all the loans in MFCs and provide interest-free loans in nationalised banks. The convention resolved to launch a statewide campaign "Freedom from Debt, Freedom from Unemployment.
3. The convention condemns the move to change MNREGA to VB-GRAM-G and demands the extension of employment under the scheme to 200 days a year and wage at Rs. 700 per day.
4. The convention condemns the misogynistic politics of BJP and passes a resolution to launch an intensive campaign for equality, dignity and safety of women, and demands a strong legislation to prevent honour killings.
5. The convention demands equal wages for equal work for Aanganwadi workers, mid-day meal workers, village health nurses, guest faculty and teachers, and regularisation of their services before the next Assembly elections.
6. The union and state government should fulfil women's demands for basic housing and must pass legislation for housing as a basic right.
7. The state government should immediately close all the government run TASMAC wine shops and guarantee alternative employment to 23000 workers of TASMAC establishments.
8. The convention appeals to women, women's rights organisations, progressive, leftist, Periyarist and Ambedkarite forces to ensure an astounding defeat for BJP- AIADMK combine which is posing a grave danger to the legacy of feminist, Periyarist, secular, federal and egalitarian Tamil Nadu.
(With inputs from Ranjini)
