As per the call of the AIDWA secretariat the All India Protest Day was organised in more than 253 districts in 21 states on June 1 – Demanding Food and Work and Stop to Violence
Protests on the demands given below were held on June 1, 2020 for 15 minutes to half an hour between 10 am to 3 pm. The protests were organised in a decentralized manner in all the units in the villages and mohallas/bastis. Conditions of the lockdown like wearing masks and keeping a distance of one metre from each other were observed. Women held posters/placards with the above demands. AIDWA local leaders addressed the women to explain our stand and condemn the central government for its inefficiency.
Memoranda were given to the concerned authority either on the same day, June 1 or will be given within the next 2-3 days demanding food and work.
We demand:- 1) Immediate direct cash transfers of Rs 7500 per month since the lockdown began to all accounts of non-income tax paying people; 2) Give 10 kg free grains to all needy persons for the next 6 months; 4) Supply all essential items without cost through the PDS; 4) Provide MNREGA work for 200 days for all who ask for work; 5) Apply MNREGA in town panchayat areas too; 6) Immediately start the Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme to provide work for the unemployed in urban areas; 7) Ensure treatment for regular patients too; 8) Provide free contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies; 9) Stop indiscriminate arrests on false charges of anti CAA-NRC-NPR activists; 10) Release the activists jailed on false charges immediately; 11) Ensure security to all victims of violence, especially women.
AIDWA state committees have done exemplary work in providing relief to thousands of starving and poor families. Local units have distributed food, nutrition kits, sanitary pads and other items to help people and women in critical conditions. The pathetic condition of migrant labour wanting to return home and the insensitive behavior of the administration and police towards them has shocked all of us. Women have been in the worst situation during this lockdown period.
Lakhs of people, especially in the unorganized sectors have lost their livelihood. Without any earnings and money, many of them are facing starvation. The central government has failed miserably in carrying out its responsibility of providing food and work. Free ration grains are being distributed in many states but all women are not getting it. Women without ration cards are not being given anything. We have received information of black marketing of food grains in certain places. It has also failed in protecting the people, especially women from violence. None of Prime Minister Modi’s speeches have expressed these concerns. His addresses to the nation have consisted of nothing more than a series of jumlas.
The secretariat decided that we must strongly come out against the utter disregard shown by the Modi government towards the concerns of women and expose its bankruptcy.