ALL INDIA PROGRESSIVE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
(AIPWA)
U-90 SHAKARPUR, DELHI 110092. PHONE:011 22521067, 0120 2513782
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
60 YEARS OF FREEDOM BUT WOMEN STILL
BRUTALISED, MARGINALISED & ENSLAVED!!
While on one hand a miniscule section of our country's elite celebrate
Independence Day, basking in their wealth as part of the global
'haves' and having finally become one of the exclusive Nuclear Club,
the majority of India is reeling under poverty, unemployment and
hopelessness, and facing violence in their daily lives. Even nothing
has been done to help them get respite from floods and drought.
Women, who are half the country, have nothing to celebrate for in
spite of India's first woman President, as things are going from bad
to worse. The past 60 years has just given women false promises and
broken dreams. Hundreds of women are gathering at Jantar Mantar on
8th. August from 10.00 a.m. to accuse the ruling classes and their
government that even after more than half a century of 'freedom',
women are still in chains!
Aipwa is putting the government in the dock and is accusing it of
three major areas of failure:
1. Increasing Violence against Women
There is not a single city, town or village or corner of our country
where gender violence and every form of domestic violence is not
taking place. Delhi has become the rape capital of India! Rape, dowry
deaths, female foeticide, wife-bashing and every form of sexual abuse
are growing day by day.
Along with this we are also faced with State violence in the form of
AFSPA in the north-east states, Salwa Judum in Chattisgarh, state
violence through its army and police in Kashmir and violence
throughout the country through state- sponsored terrorism and
'encounters'. Incidents of communal violence and caste violence do
not spare the women. Such horrendous incidents as Khairlanjhi,
Nithari, Shravasti or Mau belie that we are a modern, progressive
nation and the role of the government, through their police and
administration, reveals that our rulers have no intention of helping
women find dignity and justice. Instead they have the greatest
contempt for the women in this country. In several states we find that
even women who have enough evidence are not allowed to lodge FIRs
against the perpetrators of violence!
2. Increasing Employment and Economic Insecurity
The past 60 years has been marked by greater and greater economic
hardships and insecurity faced by the women. Rising prices,
agricultural policies that have led to ruination of farmers, suicides
and driven the rural women into degradation, poverty and prostitution.
The devastation being caused by SEZ and so-called industrialisation
can be seen in Orissa, Bengal, UP, Maharashtra, Andhra and innumerable
states and only help the rich to become richer while the poor become
expendable and are further imp0verished.
The government schemes meant to ameliorate the poverty of women and
other marginalised sections are just a sadistic joke played on the
people whether it be NREGA, BPL, micro-credit, widow pensions or any
of the government schemes. Where jobs have been given like the
aanganwadi workers, ASHA workers etc. women are expected to work for a
pittance and the feudal notions of 'begaar' are being strengthened by
the government. The government has totally failed to implement the
Minimum Wages Act or the Equal Wages Act even in its own schemes!
Ration shops and the PDS have become defunct adding to the burden on
women.
In today's world of economic globalisation, of hire and fire, lean and
mean business nobody has any security, no permanent jobs, no maternity
leave, no safety nets, no 8-hour jobs and women are being forced to
work night-shifts, a 12-hour day and put up with every type of
job-linked sexual exploitation. Complaint committees to take up
grievances related to sexual harassment have not been set up in over
70% of the Government's public sector!
Where is the Unorganised Workers Bill? Where is the Bill to stop
Sexual Harrassment at the work place? Where are the funds to make the
Domestic Violence Bill viable?
3. False Promises of Political Empowerment
Where is the political empowerment that the government promised women?
We were supposed to get a stronger Political Voice through 33%
reservation in Parliament and Assemblies! But the women's Bill has not
even been tabled under the pretext of consensus !The persecution of
women leaders in the Panchayati Raj system, especially of dalit and
other poor women, through victimisation, false cases, no-confidence
motions and freezing of development funds, is daily increasing with
women being given no protection or help from the government. This has
left women further disillusioned with the system.
Women are not prepared to put up with this state of affairs. It has
become completely clear in the past 60 years that the government, the
ruling classes of this country have no interest to better the lot of
women and are only out to further exploit them.
AIPWA calls on all working women, all oppressed and exploited women to
awaken, organise, join other deprived sections and fight to liberate
themselves from the enslavement and brutality that they are now facing
and secure their own freedom and justice!
Srilata Swaminathan Kumudini Pati
President, AIPWA General Secretary, AIPWA
9868378217 9868382952
