Report

Mahila Congress

Seminar on Crime Against Women

Full-fledged election campaign is going on for the Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra and Arunachal, and for the by-elections in several other states. AIMC office-bearers have been allocated electioneering duties in the various constituencies in these states. AIMC president, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi addressed a massive meeting at Mumbai. She also addressed a meeting at Agra, where she offered the Akhiri-Chadar on the mazar of Wali Hazrat Ahmad Shah Bukhari. She was accompanied by Dr. Jaya Shukla. The MP PMC president, Mrs. Shobha Ojha organized a seminar on crime against women, necessitated by the sharp increase in such crimes in the state since BJP came to power there. Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi was chief guest, with Dr. Mohini Giri (ex-chairperson, NCW) as the keynote speaker and Mrs. Shobhana Shah (incharge from AIMC), Mrs. Jamuna Devi and Mrs. Kaisar Jahan were main speakers.

In the non-election going states, the Mahila Congress is carrying on its pre-scheduled programmes aiming at strengthening the Congress at the grassroot level, and creating awareness towards the high principles and history of, and developmental work done towards nation-building by the Congress. The Bengal PMC's political training camp, attended by 400 women, including all DMC presidents and 100 Block President, was held on 18 September at Kolkata. AIMC president, Dr. Rita Joshi was chief guest. It was also addressed by AIMC VPs Mrs. Manju Hembrum (incharge from the AIMC) and Mrs. Neeva Kanwar, and other Congress leaders. Political training camps are going on in Assam, covering a few districts in each camp. The first one had the AIMC president as its chief guest, and Mrs. Neeva Konwar (incharge from AIMC) and the PCC president as main speakers, attended by 700 women.

Delayed reports of District level free medical camps for women on Rajivji's 60^th birth anniversary are still coming in. The Daman Mahila Congress held free eye-camp as well as the local new-year's day. In each of the five Assam PMC camps, 500 women were checked up and administered medicines. A free medical camp as well as awareness seminar was held at Muraina (M.P). The Neemach DMC held awareness camps, with a women's free medical camp at Indira Nagar on 12 September, organized by DMC president, Mrs. Manorama Mundara, where 863 patients were treated, and medicines were distributed. Uttaranchal PMC secretary, Smt. Mukta Singh organized a free medical camp at Kashipur, on 5 September where 275 patients from villages were treated. The Bengal PMC observed the day as Swasthya Diwas with health/ eye camp throughout the state, with a massive health camp at Bhowanipur (Kolkata). Study materials to poor children were also distributed, and rallies were taken out. 163 patients were treated at the free health camp at the Vriddhashram at Haryana. The Arunachal Pradesh PMC organized a sanitation and personal-hygiene camp at Nirjuli village, attended by Panchayat and Congress leaders. The Solan DMC, led by its president, Smt. Subhadra Mahajan, observed this day as 'Akshay Urja Diwas' with distribution of fruits at the Kandaghat Hospital and awareness meeting at the Senior Sec. School, Kalhang. Trees were planted near Kather bypass, the natural water-source at the Chanal forest, and in the residential areas. 'Rajiv Akshay Urja Diwas' was celebrated on 20 August in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli and various districts of Gujarat, through massive rallies and awareness camps. Debate, essay and painting competitions were held on the subject.

The Haryana PMC led by its vice-president, Smt. Asha Sharma made and sent 3,000 Rakhis to the jawans at our borders. Smt. Asha Sharma also led a demonstration at Gurgaon on 30 August against misgovernance, bad law and order situation and non-supply of power and water by the State government. The Saharasa DMC distributed relief materials with the help of Mahila Ekta Kalyan Samiti at Kosi and other places, after local goons had snatched away materials sent earlier by them at Salakhua and Utesara. The DMC also participated in the Chakka-jam at Saharasa to demand changing of defective and highly dangerous electrical wiring at Saharasa.

- Dr. Jaya Shukla