Report

MAHILA CONGRESS

Leadership Training Programme Held

The AIMC assigned duties to its office-bearers in various areas having Vidhan Sabha elections and by-elections while the AIMC president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi extensively toured these states with the AIMC-incharges of those states. In Allahabad alone she addressed 14 different meetings in rural areas in two days, after which she campaigned from 1 st to 4 th October in the town. She also campaigned in Aligarh and Muzaffarnagar in U.P. Major Krishna Mohini and Dr. Jaya Shukla were sent to Maharashtra as observers, campaigning mostly in Mumbai constituencies, while Mrs. Renu Poswal toured the state with Dr. Rita Joshi. Mrs. Nusrat Rizvi campaigned in Nagpur with AICC secretary, Mrs. Hema Gomang and in U.P. before that Mrs. Neeva Kanwar campaigned in Arunachal and Assam. Mrs. Manju Hembram, Mrs. Krishna Gehlawat, Mrs. Meera Singh and Mrs. Shobhna Shah campaigned in U.P. In Delhi and Gujarat the respective PMC presidents, Mrs. Motia Garg and Mrs. Chandrika Chudasama were made observers.

As part of the ongoing State-level Mahila leadership training programmes, camps were held at Kolkata (Sept. 18) and Trivendrum, Kerala (13, 14 Oct). The Bengal camp was attended by about 700 delegates while over 500 delegates attended the Kerala camp, where the valedictory address was given by the state chief minister, Dr. Rita Joshi inaugurated both the camps.

Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman and Dieu were visited by the AIMC secretary incharge, Dr. Sushama Yadav for formation of the State/ UT Mahila Congress executives and public meetings. A meeting with the UTMC Mahilas and women panchayat members was addressed, as well as a public meeting at Kharvad. Representation was given to the administration of Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Daman regarding problems of Congress workers there and disparity in wages.

The birthday of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, one of the most sincere visionaries of our times whose policies are taking the nation, specially its womenfolk to newer advances day by day, was declared "mahila sashaktikaran diwas" through a proposal passed unanimously in the National Executive meeting of the AIMC.

Reports have come from various non-Congress ruled states, of Mahila Congress agitations and demonstrations against atrocities upon weaker sections and women, and misgovernance. A fact-finding delegation comprising of AIMC VP, Mrs. Manju Hembrum,

AIMC incharge of Rajasthan, Mrs. Krishna Gehlawat and PMC president, Mrs. Mamata Sharma went to Kishanganj and Shahabad tehsil in Bara district, where there were 34 deaths due to hunger and malnutrition of Saharia adivasis in Brahmpura and Mayatha. The area falls in Jhalawar constituency, which is the CM's constituency. Despite repeated requests for help, no help was rendered by the State government. In Sagar (M.P), the Mahila Congress took out by a massive procession through the major roads of the city and presented a representation to the Governor. Earlier, all over Haryana simultaneously in all district headquarters the Mahila Congress demonstrated through awareness processions, against the anti-farmer and anti-women Chautala government. In Gurgaon, more than 500 women led by Mrs. Asha Sharma, joined the other Congress bodies in a demonstration procession through all major roads of the city, also sitting on a day-long dharna in front of Bapu's statue. The Mahila Congress in large numbers led by DMC president Mrs. Raj Kumari Gupta, joined the main Congress body at Siwan (Bihar) in demonstrations against the Jagdishpur massacre. They joined the AICC secretary incharge of Bihar, Shri Harkesh Bahadur on their visit to Jagdishpur, to meet families of the victims, as well as joined the Congress delegation during the first visit to Jagdishpur, where Rs. Five thousand per victim family from Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. In Rajasthan, all DMC units simultaneously demonstrated at district Headquarters against alarming increase in atrocities against women, deteriorating law and order, long absence of electric power in villages, and anti-farmer policies of the BJP state government despite the draught. Due to floods in Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, parts of Haryana, etc. the local Mahila Congress units, of district and block levels have done relief work through medical centers, NGOs and other voluntary organizations in the areas. Mrs. Indu Pawar extensively toured sensitive areas in J&K including border areas under Army supervision, specially paying attention to militancy victims. She lobbied and got released 1,000 cheques for widows and old-age pensioners, 4,000 Annapurna ration cards for those below poverty line, and 1,000 sewing machines to widows.

A few cases of heinous atrocities against women, mainly dowry-related, were taken up. A seminar on "Women in the Mirror of Religion," organized jointly by various NGOs was attended by Dr. Jaya Shukla and Mrs. Husna Subhani.

- Dr. Jaya Shukla