Report

MAHILA CONGRESS

Polls' Plans in Full Swing

A meeting of national office-bearers of Mahila Congress was called by its president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi to formulate the programmes for the next three months, specially vis-à-vis the coming Vidhan Sabha elections in some states, as well as our role with the UPA government at the Centre. It was decided to hold a work–orientation/ training seminar at an early date, divided into three major sessions; dealing with : a) teaching of history of Mahila Congress, policies of Mahila Congress, organizational aspects; b) the Common Minimum Programme and Mahila Congress role combating communalism; c) socio-economic programmes, with emphasis upon: 1) employment in the organized and unorganized sectors and 2) skill-development programmes, as well as 3) government schemes (both Central and State governments), and 4) role of NGOs. Work is in progress towards this end. The Mahila Congress units of states where Vidhan Sabha elections are due, are chalking out special programmes with the elections in view. A separate membership drive for the Mahila Congress is in progress.

Both the Mumbai RMC and Maharashtra PMC meetings were held at the Gandhi Bhawan, Mumbai on July 6th and 7th respectively. Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi was chief guest in both, accompanied by the AIMC secretary incharge of the State Smt. Renu S. Nagar and Smt. Madhu Jain (AIMC Sec.). The Mumbai RMC meeting was attended by its office-bearers and office-bearers upto district level, presided over by its President Smt. Alka Desai. Other honoured guest was Smt. Sudhatai Joshi (MLC). The Maharashtra PMC meeting was attended by its office-bearers, district office beares and Ward presidents. Senior MP Smt. Prabha Tai Rao was felicitated. Other honoured guests were Shri Sanjay Datt (MLC) and Smt. Vandana Chauhan (VP, AIMC). In both the Mumbai and Maharashtra PMC meetings, strategies for the coming elections were worked out. Training camps for formulating work-orientation for the ensuring elections are being held in each district in July, while public Mahila rallies will be held in August. Within this month, state conventions of women in local governance are being organized in both Mumbai and Maharashtra. Door-to-door campaigning is being started by PMCs to popularize the good work done by the Congress.

The Orissa PMC is organizing district level and state level plantation programmes, to be completed within August, for which discussions have already been held with authorities of the Social Forestry and the Horticulture departments. In UP, meetings were held for the Gonda DMC on June 25th and the PMC on June 30th, both presided by its president, Smt. Lalti Devi.

The Jharkhand PMC meeting (on June 23rd) and DMC president meeting (on June 24th) were held at Ranchi, both presided by Smt. Pratibha Pandey, with AIMC general secretary incharge of Jharkhand Smt. Meera Singh as chief guest. As per the AIMC president’s instructions, leadership training camps in all five Pramandals are being held in July, attended by women from Panchayats. 50 trees per ward/ block are being planted during July. The PMC repeated again its demands for State women’s policy, State Commission for Women, Mahila courts and Mahila thanas, as well as holding of the long due Panchayat elections. The Jharkhand PMC has completed demonstrations against power price hike at all district headquarters. Under its ‘Mahila Congress Ghar-Ghar Mein’ programme, the units are trying to make atleast one man and one women as Congress member from each family.

As part of its normal activities the AIMC has taken up cases of two women who have suffered heinous crimes. The Mahila Congress congratulates its Punjab PMC president, Smt. Gurukanwal Kaur upon her becoming a Minister in Punjab.

- Dr. Jaya Shukl