— Photo: S. Subramanium

FOR A RIGHTFUL SHARE: Raising their voice for women's rights are (from right) Ahilya Ranganekar Brinda Karat, Subhashini Ali and Sudha Sundararaman at a public meeting to celebrate AIDWA's silver jubilee in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) on Tuesday demanded the introduction and passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

This resolution was moved by AIDWA president Subhashini Ali at a function held to mark the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the association here.

It asked the Government to pay special attention to the educational and health needs of Muslim women and make available civic amenities in the areas dominated by the community.

There was a need for reform in some of the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law such as unilateral triple talaq in a single sitting, polygamy, and guardianship and custody of children, the resolution said.

Other resolutions against violence and atrocities on Dalit women were also passed with an overwhelming endorsement by women.

Addressing a rally, AIDWA vice-president Brinda Karat laid down a roadmap for the organisation and asked the women to be prepared to respond to the future challenges.

General secretary Sudha Sundaraman reaffirmed its commitment to the women's movement for equality, democracy and emancipation.

Relate experiences

Among the dozens of women who related their experiences were Bijoylakshmi Sinha, Minister from Tripura, whose husband was murdered by terrorists, and Dayarung Roaja, who spoke of how women were combating terrorism in the State.

Durga Swamy from Rajasthan described the Ganganagar struggle for water, in which she herself was lathicharged.

Baby from Kerala narrated the experience of women in panchayats.

A message from Susai Mary of Tamil Nadu said she was badly injured in a murderous attack for taking up the cause of a dowry victim.

Aneesa spoke about the plight of Gujarat riot victims, who have got neither compensation nor justice.

Kamla, a tribal from Madhya Pradesh, described the atrocities committed by upper caste men who cut off her arm because she dared to file a police complaint against them.

Tai Bender, an Adivasi from Maharashtra, explained the crisis created by food insecurity combined with poverty, which affected women most.

Veena Arora, general secretary, Bureau of Indian Standards Employees' Federation, recounted her struggles against sexual exploitation at workplace.

The AIDWA, which with a membership of 12 lakh held its first all-India conference in Chennai in March 1981, now has over 99 lakh members across 24 States.

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