The 11th National Conference of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) was held in Shyamali Gupta Nagar (Oriental College), Bhopal from December 10-14, 2016. The conference was attended by 788 delegates from 23 states. The conference was preceded by four relay jathas from different parts of the country which culminated in Bhopal on December 10, 2016.The public meeting held on December 10, 2016 near the Dussehra Maidan was addressed by the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Radhika Vemula, Subhashini Ali, Jagmati Sangwan, Sandhya Shaily and Neena Sharma. Malini Bhattacharya, AIDWA President presided over the meeting. Vijayan said that the BJP government has been in power for two and a half years and its leader Narendra Modi is continuously saying that he is very pro-women. But the reality on the ground shows that day by day changes are being brought about to attack the rights of women. He contrasted the misrule of the BJP governments with the rule of the Left Front Government in Kerala where numerous measures had been taken for the welfare and security of women.
The conference started on December 11, 2016 amidst enthusiastic slogans and cheering when Malini Bhattacharya hoisted the AIDWA flag at Shyamali Gupta Nagar. The conference was inaugurated by Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of the martyred leader of the anti-superstition movement (Maharashtra Andha Shraddha Nirmulan Samiti), Dr Narendra Dabholkar. She emphatically countered the claims of so-called right wing nationalists by stating that the daily struggles of women activists for the rights of their sisters was the ultimate form of ‘desh bhakti’ as it helped them to live a decent life of dignity. Brinda Karat in her keynote address recalled the tradition of struggle and sacrifice of the founders of AIDWA. She placed the key issues that need to be deliberated in the conference and hoped that the conference would come up with a credible strategy for countering the corporate forces who were providing foundational support for the spread of communalism. Radhika Vemula was the chief guest. The conference was also addressed by Rajesh Joshi, renowned poet and Chairperson of the Reception Committee for the conference.
FOCUS OF DISCUSSIONS
The conference witnessed a rich and lively discussion on the reports presented by the President and General Secretary. This marked the beginning of intensive deliberations on the present status and the future of the struggles against the present neo-liberal and communal regime. More than fifty delegates from twenty three states discussed the current political situation and the organizational challenges faced by them based on their live experiences. Five major points were noted by the delegates. First, they noted with concern that violence and atrocities against women was increasing not only in India but in the entire world, especially our neighbouring countries. A suggestion was made for taking the lead in building a common platform to take up women’s issues jointly with the neighbouring countries. Second, the delegates shared their experiences regarding their daily struggles against communal violence. Some delegates reported on the extensive work that has been done in taking up fake cases against the minorities and also providing support and relief to rape and other victims of communal violence. Delegates also noted that there was a need to have a more comprehensive campaign against the alliance between obscurantism, neo-liberalism and so-called right wing nationalism. Third, delegates narrated the challenges faced by ordinary women in their daily lives due to the impact of neo-liberalism. The problems of Dalits, Adivasis and women from the minority sections as well as working class women in the unorganized sector and the urban poor were highlighted in the discussion. Fourth, the question of land rights and control over natural resources was focused upon. In this context experiences were narrated about the struggles of combating land acquisition by corporate houses. The issue of land rights for women was also focused upon. Fifth, the issue of police repression received attention from almost all the states. The alliance between ruling parties and police were highlighted in the case of West Bengal. Attacks by emboldened RSS activists against left activists was also a subjected of discussion.
COMMISSION PAPERS AND RESOLUTIONS
Seven Commission papers highlighting important issues of contemporary relevance namely, ‘Women and the Undermining of Local Self Government’, ‘On Nationalism’, ‘Women Workers in the Unorganised Sector’, ‘Trafficking and Prostitution’, ‘Combating Alcoholism’, ‘Environmental Issues and Women’ and ‘Property and Land Rights of Women’.
The following ten resolutions were adopted by the conference - Condolence resolution paid homage to Fidel Castro, Shyamali Gupta, Manjiri Gupta, Sudha Bindu Mitra amongst other national and international leaders, Commemorate the Centenary of the Great October Revolution, Gender Justice, Laws and Triple Talaq, Against Honour Killings, Against Demonetisation, For Rights of Urban Women to Essential Pubic Services, In Defence of Scientific Approach and Rejection of Obscurantism, For Universal Maternity Entitlements, Against Politics of Terror and Attack on Democratic Rights of Women in West Bengal and Kerala, In Support of the Adivasi Women of Chhattisgarh and Worsening conditions of women in Madhya Pradesh.
FELICITATIONS
The Conference facilitated RadhikaVemula . Four women activists felicitated in the inaugural session are: Debaashri Senapati who fought the TMC goons in Bengal; Santosh who fought for property rights in Haryana; Satyawati who led the struggle against industrial pollution and displacement in Andhra Pradesh and the survivor of the Ashiyana gang rape case in Uttar Pradesh. Comrade K Hemlata, the first woman president of CITU was also felicitated and she addressed the conference.
ELECTION OF NEW COMMITTEE
The new Central Executive Committee comprising of 99 members and 12 special invitees was elected unanimously. The new CEC elected thirty two office bearers comprising of Malini Bhattacharya as President, Mariam Dhawale as General Secretary and P.K. Sreemathi as treasurer. Fifteen Vice Presidents, 8 National Secretaries and 6 Assistant Secretaries were also elected. Finally, the Conference came to a close with the inspiring speech of the new General Secretary, Mariam Dhawale who outlined the contemporary tasks and also hoped that the organization will build a united struggle against both, communalism and neo-liberalism. The conference gave a call to all AIDWA units to observe Sushila Gopalan Day on December 19, 2016 and Savitribai Phule Day on January 3, 2017. The conference ended with the resounding singing of “We Shall Overcome”.
