Report

Kranti Padayatras

Smt. Sonia Gandhi with Rajasthan Chief Minister, Shri Ashok Gehlot, AIMC president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi and other dignitaries at Ajmer rally of Mahila Congress.

The Mahila Congress in a meeting of AIMC office-bearers and state Mahila Congress presidents resolved that it will not only act as a political unit but will also transform itself into a vehicle for social change and women’s development as desired by the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi. It was the first national meeting held after Smt. Sonia Gandhi appointed Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi as the President of All India Mahila Congress. In her opening remarks, Dr. Joshi emphasized that the Mahila Congress Sashaktikaran Adhiveshan Resolution, adopted on October 1, 2002 in the presence of Smt. Sonia Gandhi is the ‘Magnacarta’ for social change as it would actually transform the lives of Indian women. It is the duty of Mahila Congress to work for the political, social and economic empowerment of women and realize the dream of late Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

The meeting lauded the efforts of Smt. Sonia Gandhi in dispelling to a large extent the atmosphere of fear in Kashmir. She reached out to the Kashmiri women in Doda in an extremely humane way to console the suffering women of the terror-stricken State. By keeping the women’s agenda on high priority in the Chief Ministers’ Conclave, Smt. Gandhi clearly showed her concern for the upliftment of women.

In view of the upcoming Assembly elections in 5-states and the Parliament elections in 2004, the Mahila Congress would strengthen its organizational setup at the block and panchayat levels with two Mahila workers per booth identified and trained. Training camps are to be held at block and district levels. Dr. Bahuguna emphasized the need for better co-ordination between frontal organizations and the parent body, requesting Shri Mukul Wasnik to facilitate interaction between them. Socio-economic awareness programmes for women will be organized at different levels. A tentative Six-Month Action Plan was drawn. Upon completion of a decade of 33% reservation for women in local governance, it was decided to organize training programmes for women in local governance, rallies, seminars and state level conventions, starting from the birth anniversary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the architect of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

In order to fulfill the women’s empowerment dream of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the PMCs are organizing "Mahila Sashaktikaran" conferences in all states. Once such conference was organized on June 14th, 2003 in Ajmer by the Rajasthan PMC president, MP, Mrs. Prabha Thakur. About fifty thousand women attended the rally.

The AICC President’s secular attitude was visible in her visiting the temple at Pushkar and the Dargha at Ajmer. When she reached the rally venue, the grounds were overflowing with women patiently waiting under the scorching sun to hear their beloved leader. The Congress President said that women-related issues were the topic for the whole society because women constitute half of it. Empowerment is their right. She announced her intent to convert her struggle for women’s empowerment into a mass-movement.

Earlier, the PMC president Smt. Prabha Thakur, MP welcomed the AICC president by presenting her with a Rajasthani Chunari and spoke of revolutionary programmes for women run by the Rajasthan Government. The PCC president, Dr. Girija Vyas, MP said that Rajiv Gandhi pioneered for women’s empowerment and Smt. Sonia Gandhi furthered it by giving 33% posts to women in the Party organization.

The AIMC president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi in her speech said that without the bravery, dedication and sacrifice of Rajasthani women the history of Rajasthan chivalry would be incomplete. Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Kamala said that the society is aware today that balanced development cannot be achieved without women becoming educated and coming forward.

In Jharkhand also the PMC convened a Mahila Mahapanchayat at Ranchi on June 26th, on culmination of one and a half month long padyatras taken out in each block of each district, led by AIMC secretary, incharge of Jharkhand, Smt. Meera Singh and PMC president Smt. Pratibha Pandey. Over 10,000 women attended this Mahapanchayat presided by Smt. Pratibha Pandey addressed by AIMC president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, general secretary AICC, Shri Mukul Wasnik, secretary AICC Ms. Sushila Tiria, secretary AICC Shri Imran Kidwai, PCC president Tomas Hansda, MP, Congress MLAs and senior women leaders. It was a successful experiment in women-power in the sense that resourceless women came in large numbers, from all corners of the state and brought the discussions to meaningful conclusion.

- Dr. Jaya Shukla,
Secretary, Media-incharge, AIMC